Cu-Based Metal-Organic Framework Thin Films: A Morphological and Photovoltaic Study

Publication date: Available online 8 March 2018 Source:Journal of Solid State Chemistry Author(s): Ruhollah Khajavian, Kamal Ghani This work explores the layer-by-layer (LbL) fabrication of [Cu2(bdc)2(bpy)]n thin films by using pyridine and acetic acid as capping agents onto mesoporous titania surface. While in the presence of acetic acid highly-ordered crystals with nanoplate morphology are formed, modulation with pyridine gives rise to formation of leaf-like crystals. In addition, processing sequence also matters when modulator is added. According to our results, modulators should be added to metal solution rather than linker/pillar during LbL assembly. These films were subsequently shown to generate photocurrent in a sandwich-type Grätzel solar cell device in response to simulated 1 sun illumination. The results also demonstrated that the device consisted of well-aligned nanoplates exhibits higher power conversion efficiency than the similar cell with disordered leaf-like crystals after iodine loading. Graphical abstract
Source: Journal of Solid State Chemistry - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research