Time-resolved spectroscopic studies of photovoltaic and photosynthetic systems

The increasing requirement for efficient and sustainable energy generation technology demands an understanding of the mechanisms of photocurrent generation in photovoltaic systems. Device performances are largely governed by charge formation and transport dynamics as well as loss processes, which in some cases are poorly understood. Time-resolved spectroscopy is a powerful tool for detangling the origins of performance improvements and losses. We apply a combination of absorption, photoluminescence and photocurrent detection on representative photosystems, including photovoltaic materials and in vivo biofilms. By elucidating the key photophysical mechanisms in these systems, we hope to understand the pathways that determine the efficiency of photovoltaic materials and thus steer the progress of new technologies.