First-Principles Density Functional Theory Study of Novel Materials for Solar Energy Conversion and Environment Applications

Abstract

To design an efficient solar energy conversion device, theoretical input is extremely important to provide the basic guideline for experimental scientists, to fabricate the most efficient, cheap, and stable device with less efforts. This desire can be made possible if computational scientist use a proper theoretical protocol, design an energy material, then the experimentalist will only invest weeks or months on the synthetic effort. This thesis highlights my recent efforts in this direction. Monoclinic BiVO4 is has been using as a photocatalyst due to its stability, cheap, easily synthesizable, narrow band gap and ideal VB (-6.80 eV vs vacuum) but inappropriate CB (-4.56 eV vs vacuum) edge position, responsible for its low efficiency. We have carried out a comprehensive experimental and periodic density functional theory (DFT) simulations of the pristine, Oxygen defective (Ov), Se doped monoclinic BiVO4 and heterojunction with Selenium (Se-BiVO4), to improve not only its CB edge position but photocatalytic and charge carrier properties. It is found that Ov (1% Oxygen vacancy) and mild doped BiVO4 (1 to 2% Se) are thermodynamically stable, have ideal band edges ~ -4.30 eV), band gaps (~1.96 eV), and small effective masses of electrons and holes. We have also investigated the contribution of Se to higher performance by effecting morphology, light absorption and charge transfer properties in heterojunction. Finally, it is found that Se makes a direct Z-scheme (band alignments) with BiVO4 where the photoexcited electron of BiVO4 recombine with the VB of Se, consequences electron-hole separation at Se and BiVO4, respectively, as a result, enhanced photocurrent is obtained. Theoretical study of β-TaON in the form of primitive unit cell, supercell and its N, Ta, and O terminated surfaces are carried out with the help of periodic DFT. Optical and electronic properties of all these different species are simulated, which predict TaON as the best candidate for photocatalytic water splitting contrast to their Ta2O5 and Ta3N5 counterparts. The calculated bandgap, valence band, and conduction band edge positions predict that β-TaON should be an efficient photoanodic material. The valence band is made up of N 2p orbitals with a minor contribution from O 2p, while the conduction band is made up of Ta 5d. Turning to thin films, the valence band maximum; VBM (−6.4 eV vs. vacuum) and the conduction band minimum; CBM (−3.3 eV vs. vacuum) of (010)-O terminated surface are respectively well below and above the redox potentials of water as required for photocatalysis. Charge carriers have smaller effective masses than in the (001)-N terminated film (VBM −5.8 and CBM −3.7 eV vs. vacuum). However, due to wide band gap (3.0 eV) of (010)-O terminated surface, it cannot absorb visible wavelengths. On the other hand, the (001)-N terminated TaON thin film has a smaller band gap in the visible region (2.1 eV) but the bands are not aligned to the redox potential of water. Possibly a mixed phase material would produce an efficient photoanode for solar water splitting, where one phase performs the oxidation and the other reduction. Computational study of an optically transparent, near-infrared-absorbing low energy gap conjugated polymer, donor−acceptor−donor (D-A-D) with promising attributes for photovoltaic application is reported herein. The D and A moiety on the polymeric backbone have been found to be responsible for tuning the band gap, optical gap, open circuit (Voc) and short-circuit current density (Jsc) in the polymers solar cells (PSC). Reduction in the band gap, high charge transformation, and enhanced visible light absorption in the D-A-D system is because of strong overlapping of molecular orbitals of D and A. In addition, the enhanced planarity and weak steric hindrance between adjacent units of D-A-D, resulted in red-shifting of its onset of absorption. Finally, PSC properties of the designed D-A-D was modeled in the bulk heterojunction solar cell, which gives theoretical Voc of about 1.02 eV. DFT study has been carried out to design a new All-Solid-State dye-sensitized solar cell (SDSC), by applying a donor-acceptor conjugated polymer instead of liquid electrolyte. The typical redox mediator (I1−/I3−) is replaced with a narrow band gap, hole transporting material (HTM). A unique “upstairs” like band energy diagram is created by packing N3 between HTM and TiO2. Our theoretical simulations prove that the proposed configuration will be highly efficient as the HOMO level of HTM is 1.19 eV above the HOMO of sanitizer (dye); providing an efficient pathway for charge transfer. High short-circuit current density and power conversion efficiency is promised from the strong overlapping of molecular orbitals of HTM and sensitizer. A low reorganization energy of 0.21 eV and exciton binding energy of 0.55 eV, confirm the high efficiency of HTM. Theoretical and experimental studies of a series of four porphyrin-furan dyads were designed and synthesized, having anchoring groups, either at meso-phenyl or pyrrole-β position of a zinc porphyrin based on donor–π–acceptor (D–π–A) approach. The porphyrin macrocycle acts as donor, furan hetero cycle acts as π-spacer and either cyanoacetic acid or malonic acid group acts as acceptor. Optical bandgap, natural bonding, and molecular bonding orbital (HOMO–LUMO) analysis confirm the high efficiency pyrrole-β substituted zinc porphyrins contrast to meso-phenyl dyads. DFT study of polypyrrole-TiO2 composites has been carried out to explore their optical, electronic and charge transfer properties for the development of an efficient photocatalyst. Titanium dioxide (Ti16O32) was interacted with a range of pyrrole (Py) oligomers to predict the optimum composition of nPy-TiO2 composite with suitable band structure for efficient photocatalytic properties. The study has revealed that Py-Ti16O32 composites have narrow band gap and better visible light absorption capability compared to individual constituents. A red-shifting in λmax, narrowing band gap, and strong intermolecular interaction energy (-41 to −72 kcal/mol) of nPy-Ti16O32 composites confirm the existence of strong covalent type interactions. Electron−hole transferring phenomena are simulated with natural bonding orbital analysis where Py oligomers found as donor and Ti16O32 as an acceptor in nPy-Ti16O32 composites. Sensitivity and selectivity of polypyrrole (PPy) towards NH3, CO2 and CO have been studied at DFT. PPy oligomers are used both, in the doped (PPy+) and neutral (PPy) form, for their sensing abilities to realize the best state for gas sensing. Interaction energies and amount of charges (NBO and Mulliken charge analysis) are simulated which reveal the sensing ability of PPy towards these gases. PPy, both in doped and neutral state, is more sensitive to NH3 compared to CO2 and CO. More interestingly, NH3 causes doping of PPy and de-doping of PPy+, providing evidence that PPy/PPy+ is an excellent sensor for NH3 gas. UV-vis and UV-vis-near-IR spectra of nPy, nPy+, and nPy/nPy+-X complexes demonstrate strong interaction of PPy/PPy+ with these atmospheric gases. The applications of graphene (GR) and its derivatives in the field of composite materials for solar energy conversion, energy storage, environment purification and biosensor applications have been reviewed. The vast coverage of advancements in environmental applications of GR-based materials for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, gas sensing and removal of heavy metal ions is presented. Additionally, the presences of graphene composites in the bio-sensing field have been also discussed in this review.