A team of Japanese researchers from Kyushu University has made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize the field of solar cells. By introducing chirality into molecular orientation, they were able to achieve a remarkable triplet yield of 133%, significantly improving energy transfer when absorbing light.
This technique, known as singlet fission (SF), involves the absorption of a single photon in molecules called chromophores, resulting in an additional exciton. The researchers controlled the molecular arrangement and orientation of these chromophores to maximize the efficiency of the SF process.
Chirality, a property that makes molecules non-superimposable in their mirror images, was found to be crucial in achieving this high yield. By manipulating the arrangement of atoms within the molecular structure, the team identified a counterion – specifically, the ammonium molecule – as the key factor influencing the alignment of chromophores and related SF process.
The study’s results show that achiral molecules did not exhibit similar results, proving the impact of chirality on energy transfer. This breakthrough offers a novel framework for molecular design in SF research and has significant implications for applications in solar cells, quantum materials, photocatalysis, and life science involving electron spins.
The researchers’ achievement paves the way for further exploration of SF in chiral molecular assemblies in organic media and thin film systems, which are critical for applications in solar cells and photocatalysts. The study was published in the Wiley Online Library and demonstrates the potential for this technology to transform the energy landscape.
Source: https://interestingengineering.com/science/chiral-molecules-boost-solar-cell-potential