| PHD Student
Université du Québec
Institut national de la recherche scientifique
Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications
1650, boulevard Lionel-Boulet
Varennes, Québec, Canada
J3X 1S2
Telephone: +1 (514) 228-6971
Fax: +1 (450) 929-8102
dembele@emt.inrs.ca
www.emt.inrs.ca
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Conventional solar cells have a relatively high energy efficiency, but
are still expensive because of the production cost. DSSCs are considered
as third generation solar cells and have a low cost of production yet
their energy conversion efficiency is still low.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered remarkable materials owing to their
unique structural and mechanical properties such as high electrochemical
stability, low resistivity, and high surface-to-volume ratio. CNTs have
been used as a support for dispersions of functional materials in order
to give these materials additional functionalities, such as structure,
surface area, activity and conductivity.
CNTs and titanium dioxide (TiO2) composite materials have attracted attention
in the literature in relation to the treatment of contaminated water and
air by heterogeneous photo-catalysis, hydrogen evolution, CO2 photo-reduction.
They also have excellent properties to be used in dye sensitised solar
cells and sensor devices.
In this project and in collaboration with Professor Enrico Traversa and
Silvia Licoccia (Tor Vergata University of Rome) group, we will study
the best conditions to fabricate and use CNTs/TiO2 in DSSCs to increase
their energy conversion efficiency. These composite materials have been
fabricated by a range of different methods, including: mechanical mixing
of TiO2 and CNTs, sol–gel synthesis of TiO2 in the presence of CNTs,
electro-spinning methods and, electrophoretic deposition and chemical
vapour deposition. The uniformity of the oxide coating and the physical
properties of the composite materials vary according to the preparation
method.
In this work we will characterize the optimal conditions (methods of fabrication,
concentration and ratio) to improve DSSCs solar conversion efficiency
by using CNTs/TiO2 composites.
Background/Education:
DEUG (Diplôme d'études universitaires générales)
in Mathematics and Physics in the Faculty of Science and Technology –
July 2003, Mali.
Degree in Industrial Engineering, Option: Energy in the National School
of Engineers – July 2006, Mali.
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