Micropatterned thin films have received increased interest in the past few years. Besides preparation by conventional lithography, self-assembly of materials around a template can be used for patterning. Recently a method that utilizes the condensation of micrometer-size water droplets on solutions of block copolymers was reported for the preparation of ordered micrometer-size honeycomb structures. Here we show that the formation of honeycomb-like porous films is a general method that can be used for patterning many materials, e.g., block copolymers, amphiphilic polyion complexes, organic/inorganic hybrids, and homopolymers, such as polystyrene. Stabilization of water droplets is indispensable for regular pattern formation.
Nanostructured photovoltaic devices were fabricated using a porous
n-type TiO2 film, a thin layer of CdS acting as the absorber,
and a transparent p-type CuSCN filling the pores. The cell showed
an internal quantum efficiency of ∼100% and significant cell
efficiency of 1.3% at 1 sun, as well as high photovoltage (0.85 V)
and a filling factor of 0.65. Though the cell concept was already
proposed by others, this cell clearly shows a significant performance
and it demonstrates the potentiality of such cells made with very
thin absorber layers (<10−20 nm) and largely structured
porous films (roughness factor >100). Description of component characterization
and explanation of identified issues are presented.
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