D−A composites prepared from graphene and its derivatives (GNDs) with photo-sensitizers play an essential role in solar energy conversion. This review summarizes the recent progresses in characterizing GNDs-based composites using transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) to assess the electronic properties of composites from a photophysical perspective. These enable the design of various more efficient solar energy conversion composites.

Abstract

As excellent functional materials, the composite materials based on graphene and its derivatives (GNDs) have lots of important application values in the emerging fields such as solar energy conversion, and the exploration of electron (or energy) transfer properties of those composites is the key for revealing their further applications. In this review, femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) has been introduced as an essential technique to understand the carrier behaviors in GNDs composites, as well as the advancements of TAS. The specific examples of electron transport in various composite materials characterized by TAS are summarized and discussed, which consist of GNDs with semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), organic dyes, organic polymers, perovskites and other materials, respectively. This review provides a deep insight into the electron transfer (ET) kinetics of various GNDs composites from the perspective of TAS.