Braun Group People
Dr. Agustin Mihi
Beckman Institute Fellow
I received my Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Seville in July of 2008. My research, focused on increasing the light harvested in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells by coupling Photonic Crystals, was carried out at the Institute of Materials Science of Seville (Spain). In 2008, I was awarded with one of the Beckman Institute Postdoctoral Fellowships at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
My research interests are focused in methods to enhance light harvesting efficiencies in solar cells through photonic crystal and glass based components. We intend to increase the interaction time of photons with the absorbing material via coherent and incoherent scattering processes taking place at those photonic structures, higher photogenerated currents being expected. On the one hand, we can employ several phenomena that photonic crystals exhibit: Localization and slow light phenomena associated to defect modes in the photonic band gap, high diffraction modes due to the ordered surface of the crystal that can enhance light optical path, and, eventually, flat photonic bands shown at the high energy range. On the other hand, non coherent scattering, like the one taking place in photonic glasses, forces light to travel through the material diffusively, thus the photon mean free path is greatly increased. Furthermore, the implementation of these materials within existing solar cells in such a way that makes them compatible with actual industrial procedures is also one of our goals.
Figure: Scanning electron micrograph of (a) an inverse titanium oxide based working electrode and (b) nanoparticle based titanium oxide electrode attached to an inverse opal made of the same material. Insets show schemes of different dye sensitized cells including photonic crystals in different configurations.
Professor Paul Braun • Phone: +1.217.244.7293 • Fax: +1.217.333.2736 • Email: pbraun@illinois.edu
Department of Materials Science and Engineering • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign