Arthur J. Frank - Principal Scientist

phone: 303-384-6262
email: arthur_frank@nrel.gov
At NREL since 1979

Dr. Frank’s research interest covers basic and applied research on the direct conversion of solar photons to fuels and electricity using quantum and nonquantum nanoscaled semiconductors, photonic band gaps, chemically tailored electrode surfaces, conductive polymers, novel electrolytes, and photocatalysts. The current focus of his group is to determine the operational characteristics key to efficient and stable solar cells based on sensitized mesoporous oxide films.

A combination of theory, computer simulations, and time- and frequency-resolved techniques are used to gain important insight into the physical and chemical factors that govern the energetics and dynamics of interfacial charge transfer and carrier transport in regenerative dye-sensitized solar cells and the limitations that these processes impose on cell performance. Novel light management strategies to improve light harvesting are also being explored. In addition, research is being carried out to develop advanced electrodes for ultrahigh-efficiency solar hydrogen production from water splitting.

Dr. Frank is the author or co-author of more than 100 scientific publications and holds 5 U.S. patents on the topics mentioned above. He has organized and chaired several U.S. and international symposia. He has chaired or served on several DOE review panels and served as a member of the U.S. DOE Visiting Team under the U.S.-Israel Scientific Cooperation Agreement and as a delegate to the International Energy Agency Executive Conference.

Prior to joining NREL, Dr. Frank was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California (Calvin Lab.) at Berkeley (1976–78) and the Hahn-Meitner Institute in Berlin (1975–76), where he worked in the field of molecular and colloidal solar photochemistry. His graduate school research at the University of Florida centered on radiation chemistry and gas phase kinetics. He received his B.A. from University of Colorado at Boulder (1968).

Selected Publications

1. J. van de Lagemaat, N. Kopidakis, N.R. Neale, and A.J. Frank, “Effect of Nonideal Statistics on Electron Diffusion in Sensitized Nanocrystalline TiO₂,” Phys . Rev. B. 71, 035304 (2005).
2. N. Kopidakis, K. D. Benkstein, J. van de Lagemaat, A.J. Frank, Q. Yuan, and E.A. Schiff, “Temperature Dependence of the Electron Diffusion Coefficient in Electrolyte-Filled TiO₂ Nanoparticle Films: Evidence Against Multiple Trapping In Exponential Conduction Band Tails,” Phys. Rev. B 73, 045326 (2006).
3. N. Kopidakis, N.R. Neale, and A.J. Frank, “Effect of an Adsorbent on Recombination and Band-Edge Movement in Dye-Sensitized TiO₂ Solar Cells: Evidence for Surface Passivation,” J. Phys. Chem. B, 110, 12485 (2006).
4. K. Zhu, N. Kopidakis, N.R. Neale, J. van de Lagemaat, A.J. Frank, “Influence of Surface Area on Charge Transport and Recombination in Dye-Sensitized TiO₂ Solar Cells,” J. Phys. Chem. B. 110, 25174 (2006).
5. P. Yu, K. Zhu, A. Norman, S. Ferrere, A.J. Frank, A.J. Nozik, “Nanocrystalline TiO₂ Solar Cells Sensitized with InAs Quantum Dots,” J. Phys. Chem. B 110, 25451 (2006).
6. K. Zhu, N.R. Neale, A. Miedaner, A.J. Frank,  “Enhanced Charge-Collection Efficiencies and Light Scattering in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Using Oriented TiO₂ Nanotubes Arrays,” Nano Lett. 7, 69 (2007).

NREL Publications

View NREL publications for this staff member.

Loading... Please wait.

Other Team Members

Printable Version