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 coordinating metal ion.

The quantum dot-sensitized solar cell (QDSSC) includes a photoelectrode, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte sandwiched between the photoelectrode and the counter electrode. The photoelectrode is formed from a titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) layer, a cadmium sulfide (CdS) quantum dot sensitizer layer, and a tin dioxide (SnO.sub.2) nanograss layer sandwiched between the titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) layer and the cadmium sulfide (CdS) quantum dot sensitizer layer.

Forward and back electron transfer at molecule oxide interfaces are pivotal events in dye-sensitized solar cells, dye-sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cells and other applications. Disclosed herein are self-assembled multilayers as a strategy for manipulating electron transfer dynamics at these interfaces. The multilayer films are achieved by stepwise layering of bridging molecules, linking ions, and active molecule on an oxide surface. The formation of the proposed architecture is supported by ATR-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Time-resolved emission and transient absorption establishes that the films exhibit an exponential decrease in electron transfer rate with increasing bridge length. The findings indicate that self-assembled multilayers offer a simple, straight forward and modular method for manipulating electron transfer dynamics at dye-oxide interfaces.

The present disclosure is directed to a triazine-modified ionic liquid compound, the synthesis thereof and an electrochemical cell electrolyte containing the triazine-modified ionic liquid compound.

Solid-state energy harvesters comprising layers of metal suboxides and cerium dioxide utilizing a solid-state electrolyte to produce power and methods of making and using the same are provided. The solid-state energy harvester may have two or three electrodes per cell and produces power in the presence of water vapor and oxygen.

The present invention relates to an optoelectronic device including an electron transport layer (ETL) and a light harvesting layer, wherein the light harvesting layer includes a metal halide perovskite and is provided on the ETL being a multilayer structure having at least two layers of metal oxide, at least one layer of which includes a crystalline mesoporous metal oxide and at least one layer of which includes an amorphous metal oxide or metal oxide nanocrystals, and wherein the layer being in contact with the light harvesting layer includes the amorphous metal oxide or the metal oxide nanocrystals and is provided on the layer including the crystalline mesoporous metal oxide.

Platinum films can be obtained by AACVD using a class of Pt-dialkyldithiocarbamates complexes, of the formula Pt(S.sub.2CNR.sub.2), wherein R is independently alkyl, such as isobutyl, aryl, or alkaryl, such as benzyl, particularly as single source precursors. The catalytic performance of the resulting Pt-films allows their use as counter electrodes in dye sensitized solar cells, for example. The efficiency of the AACVD-produced electrodes can be better than a conventionally used Pt-counter electrodes made by the doctor blade's method. The Pt(S.sub.2CNR.sub.2)-derived films have well connected and defect free surface topography and better catalytic performance, likely due to their high conductivity and reflectivity. A simple and low cost method employing such dithiocarbamate precursors can generate Pt-films and electrodes of broad applicability.

A simple, one-step method for producing a homogenous CeO.sub.2TiO.sub.2 composite thin film using aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of a solution containing triacetatocerium (III) and tetra isopropoxytitanium (IV) on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate at a temperature ranging from about 500 to about 650 C. Methods for using the film produced by this method.

Provided is a photoelectric conversion element including: a first electrode; a hole blocking layer; an electron transport layer; a hole transport layer; and a second electrode, wherein the hole blocking layer includes a metal oxide including a titanium atom and a niobium atom.

Provided is a photoelectric conversion element including: a first electrode; a hole blocking layer; an electron transport layer; a hole transport layer; and a second electrode, wherein the hole blocking layer includes a metal oxide including a titanium atom and a niobium atom.