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Journal of Materials Chemistry was published between 1991 and 2012. From issue 1, 2013, it was replaced by three new journals: Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B and C
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA
E-mail: odvelev@unity.ncsu.edu
; Fax: +1 (1)919 515 3465
; Tel: +1 (1)919 513 4318
b
School of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
c
Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, USA
J. Mater. Chem., 2011,21, 72-79
DOI:
10.1039/C0JM01820A
Received
08 Jun 2010,
Accepted
18 Aug 2010
First published online
21 Sep 2010
We present a new type of photovoltaic systems based on aqueous soft gel materials. Two photosensitive ions, DAS− and [Ru(bpy)3]2+, were used as photoactive molecules embedded in aqueous gel. The hydrogel photovoltaic devices (HGPVs) showed performance comparable with or higher than those of other biomimetic or ionic photovoltaic systems reported recently. We suggest a provisional mechanism, which is based on a synergetic effect of the two dye molecules in photocurrent generation. We found an efficient replacement of the expensive Pt counter-electrode with copper coated with carbon materials, such as carbon nanotubes, carbon black or graphite. These Cuelectrodes coated with carbon layers could drastically reduce the cost of such hydrogel devices without efficiency loss. Thus, a new class of low cost and flexible photovoltaic cells made of biocompatible matrix was demonstrated. Biologically derived photoactive molecules, such as Chlorophyll and Photosystem II, were successfully operated in aqueous gel media of such HGPVs.
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Journal of Materials Chemistry
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