MINA-NEWS
Photovoltaic conversion in the spotlight
In organic photovoltaic systems, photon-electron conversion takes place at the nanometric level between the material emitting the electrons and the material receiving them. Although this fact is commonly accepted, it had never been observed directly—until now. An INAC research team working in association with a CNRS-University of Limoges joint research team has just accomplished this. The researchers used atomic-force “Kelvin probe” microscopy to observe a pair of reference materials used in solar cells. The images they obtained show how electrical charges are created at the interface between the two materials and subsequently diffused. This high-resolution technique could potentially be used to study new materials and assess their photovoltaic conversion potential.
Contact: benjamin.grevin@cea.fr
