Novel class of mesoporous films of transparent conducting oxides for optoelectronic devices with enhanced performance

• Applicants: Professorin Dr. Dina Fattakhova-Rohlfing; Dr. Torsten Oekermann; Professor Dr. Bernd Smarsly; Professor Dr. Michael Wark
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
• Term: from 2007 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 43475567

Large surface area interconnected networks of transparent conducting oxides (TCO) (doped indium, tin and zinc-based metal oxides) with developed mesoporous architecture will be synthesized. This novel type of materials will possess unique combination of tailored structure properties (electric conductivity, crystallinity and crystallites interconnectivity), controlled texture properties (3D-mesoporosity providing large accessible surface area, optimum pore size) and high optical transparency. Structure and texture properties of mesoporous TCO films will be controlled by using suitable structure-directing agents and post-synthetic treatment. Aside from the indium-based TCOs, development of cheaper classes of TCOs based on tin and zinc oxides will be in the focus of the project. Mechanisms of electrical conductivity and optical properties of developed mesoporous polycrystalline TCO systems will be studied. Optoelectronically active guests will be incorporated into the mesoporous TCO films, namely electrochromically active phthalocyanine molecules and layers of metal oxides such as WO3 and V2O5, electroluminescent ruthenium bipyridyl compounds and photoactive layers of metal oxides such as ZnO and TiO2 with the aim to develop new types of highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells, electrochemoluminescent sensors and electrochromic devices.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Czech Republic
• Participating Person: Dr. Jiri Rathousky