This disclosure relates to photocatalytic polyoxometalate compositions of tungstovanadates and uses as water oxidation catalysts. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to compositions comprising water, a complex of a tetra-metal oxide cluster and VW.sub.9O.sub.34 ligands, and a photosensitizer. Typically, the metal oxide cluster is Co. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to electrodes and other devices comprising water oxidation catalysts disclosed herein and uses in generating fuels and electrical power from solar energy.

Transmission of low energy light is one of the primary loss mechanisms of a single junction solar cell. Molecular photon upconversion via triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA-UC)—combining two or more low energy photons to generate a higher energy excited state—is an intriguing strategy to surpass this limit. The present disclosure is directed to self-assembled multilayers, e.g., bi- or trilayers, on metal oxide surfaces as a strategy to facilitate TTA-UC emission and demonstrate direct charge separation of the upconverted state. A three-fold enhancement in transient photocurrent is achieved at light intensities as low as two equivalent suns. The multilayer structure comprises a substrate comprising a metal oxide surface and a bulk region, and a self-assembled bilayer film, the bilayer film comprising: (a) an acceptor molecule covalently bonded to the metal oxide surface; (b) a linking metal ion bonded to the acceptor molecule; and (c) one or more sensitizer molecule(s) bonded to the linking co-ordinating metal ion.

Photovoltaic devices such as solar cells, hybrid solar cell-batteries, and other such devices may include an active layer disposed between two electrodes. The active layer may have perovskite material and other material such as mesoporous material, interfacial layers, thin-coat interfacial layers, and combinations thereof. The perovskite material may be photoactive. The perovskite material may be disposed between two or more other materials in the photovoltaic device. Inclusion of these materials in various arrangements within an active layer of a photovoltaic device may improve device performance. Other materials may be included to further improve device performance, such as, for example: additional perovskites, and additional interfacial layers.

In one form, a photoelectrochemical cell comprising a p-type sensitized photocathode including a sensitizer dye and a water-based electrolyte. In another form, the sensitizer dye and an adjacent semiconductor may have a reduction potential that is sufficiently high to either reduce a desired chemical feedstock in the cell or reduce protons in the water to hydrogen gas. The semiconductor to which the sensitizer dye is affixed may be nickel oxide. The photoelectrochemical cell can include a sensitized photocathode and an electrolyte that contains an electron acceptor, where light illumination of the sensitized photocathode results in reduction of the electron acceptor. The electrolyte can include water.

A perovskite solar cell is provided with a perovskite material layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; an electron transport layer disposed on the first surface; and a gold-nickel oxide layer disposed on the second surface. Furthermore, a manufacturing method of the perovskite solar cell is disclosed with steps of providing a transparent substrate; forming a gold-nickel oxide layer on the transparent substrate; and forming a perovskite material layer on the gold-nickel oxide layer.

The present invention relates to the doping of organic semiconductors and processes for producing layers of p-doped organic semiconductors. Disclosed is a process for p-doping organic semiconductors comprising treating the organic semiconductor with an oxidized salt of the organic semiconductor. A process for producing a layer of a p-doped organic semiconductor comprising producing a p-doped organic semiconductor by treating the organic semiconductor with an oxidized salt of the organic semiconductor; disposing a composition comprising a solvent and the p-doped organic semiconductor on a substrate; and removing the solvent is also described. Also disclosed is a process for producing a layer of a p-doped organic semiconductor comprising: disposing a composition comprising a solvent, the organic semiconductor and a protic ionic liquid on a substrate; and removing the solvent. A process for producing a semiconductor device comprising a process for doping an organic semiconductor according to the invention is also described. Finally, a high purity p-dopant composition is described.

The invention relates to the use of halogenated histidine derivatives as electrolyte salts in the preparation of an electrolyte composition in a photoelectrochemical cell based on the sensitization to light of photoactive molecules, and also to a photoelectrochemical cell based on the sensitization to light of photoactive molecules comprising an electrolyte composition comprising at least one halogenated histidine derivative as electrolyte salt.

A photocatalytic power generation system including a solar housing, a photoanode, an electrolyte membrane, a cathode, an oxygen diffusion membrane, and an external power generation circuit. The photoanode and the cathode are each positioned within the solar housing and electrically coupled to the external power generation circuit. The electrolyte membrane is positioned between and electrochemically engaged with the photoanode and the cathode forming a photocatalytic cell. The solar housing comprises a closed-loop water chamber having an anode side flow channel, a cathode side flow channel, a recombined water channel, and an oxygen diffusion membrane. Further, the oxygen diffusion membrane is positioned and configured to inhibit recombined water generated at the cathode from flowing from the cathode side to the anode side along the oxygen transport channel and permit recombined water generated at the cathode from flowing from the cathode side to the anode side along the recombined water channel.

A perovskite solar module and a preparation method thereof. The perovskite solar module includes: a substrate; a transparent conductive oxide layer provided on at least a part of a surface of the substrate; an electron transport layer provided on at least a part of a surface of the transparent conductive oxide layer facing away from the substrate; a photoactive layer provided on at least a part of a surface of the electron transport layer facing away from the transparent conductive oxide layer; a hole transport layer provided on at least a part of a surface of the photoactive layer facing away from the electron transport layer; an electrode provided on at least a part of a surface of hole transport layer facing away from the photoactive layer; and a barrier layer provided in the photoactive layer and separating the photoactive layer apart from a protrusion of the electrode.

The invention provides an optoelectronic device comprising a mixed-anion perovskite, wherein the mixed-anion perovskite comprises two or more different anions selected from halide anions and chalcogenide anions. The invention further provides a mixed-halide perovskite of the formula (I) [A][B][X].sub.3 wherein: [A] is at least one organic cation; [B] is at least one divalent metal cation; and [X] is said two or more different halide anions. In another aspect, the invention provides the use of a mixed-anion perovskite as a sensitizer in an optoelectronic device, wherein the mixed-anion perovskite comprises two or more different anions selected from halide anions and chalcogenide anions. The invention also provides a photosensitizing material for an optoelectronic device comprising a mixed-anion perovskite wherein the mixed-anion perovskite comprises two or more different anions selected from halide anions and chalcogenide anions.