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StudentLaboratory
Lab1:FabricationofPolymerSensitizedSolarCell
Lab2:InvestigatingPropertiesofPhotovoltaicDevices
WhyStudyOrganicSolarCells(OrganicPhotovoltaics)?
17
TheamountofenergythattheEarthreceivesfromthesunis1.75x10
Watts(orJoules/sec).
In2013,theInternationalEnergyAgencyestimatedthattheworldenergyconsumptionwas
20
about
5.59810
joules,meaningthatEarthreceivesenoughenergytofulfilltheannualworld
energydemandinlessthananhour!
Itisimportanttonotethatnotallofthissolarenergy
reachesEarthssurface(duetoscatteringoflight),butthisfactorisnotlimitingthealternative
4
energyindustryfromutilizingthissourceofenergy.
Therealchallengeliesintheefficiencyof
solarenergyconversionthroughphotovoltaicdevicesandthemanufacturingcostsofsuch
devices.Inordertocompetewithenergyfromfossilfuels,photovoltaicdevicesmustconvert
sunlighttoelectricitywithameasureofefficiencygreaterthancoalfiredpowerplants,which
hoveraround30%40%efficient.Whilethisdesiredrateofefficiencyhasbeenmetbystateof
theartinorganicsolarcells(siliconbased),mostcommerciallyavailableinorganicsolarcells
4,5
haveefficienciesaround1520%(see
Figure1
below).
Also,themanufacturingofinorganic
solarcellsisfartoolimitedandcostly,leadingengineerstolookforalternativematerials,such
asorganicmaterials,thatcanbeprocessedundermoreflexibleconditionswithlesscostly
4
materials.Polymerbasedsolarcellscouldbethefutureofenergyfortheworld!
Figure1:
Progress in research cell efficiencies over time for various technologies, including
Organic Photovoltaics (OPVs)
Purpose:
Students will fabricate conjugated polymer/TiO
2 hybrid solar cells and examine the light
absorption properties and corresponding spectral responsivity of the photovoltaic devices.
These types of devices will help students learn about the chemical physics of alternative solar
energy molecular technologies and how these devices can address the energy needs of the
21stcentury.
Thisactivitywillfocuson:
electrochemistry
principlesofchargetransfer
alternativeenergyresources
PrelabQuestions:
1. What are the main differences between voltage and current (in our case, this will be
photocurrent)?
2. Think about a particular pigment/dye that you are familiar with. What color(s) of visible
lightisitreflecting?Whatcolor(s)ofvisiblelightdoesitabsorb?
3. The electromagnetic spectrum is represented below. Which wavelengths of visible light
arethemostenergetic?
Definitions:
polymer
:alargemoleculecomposedofrepeatingstructuralunits,calledmonomers
conductance
:howeasilyelectrons(electricity)flowsthroughamaterial
semiconductor
:describesamaterialthathaselectricalpropertiesinbetweenthoseof
conductorsandinsulators(electricityflowseasilythroughconductorsbutdoesntflow
throughinsulators)electronscanflowthroughsemiconductors,butnotaseasilyasthey
flowthroughconductors
conductingpolymer
:polymersthatconductelectricity(polymersthatelectriccharges
canflowthrough)
exciton
a
boundstate
ofan
electron
andan
electronhole
whichareattractedtoeach
otherbytheelectrostatic
Coulombforce
.
UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015
holes
:theabsenceofanelectronwhiledeviceschematicssometimesindicatetheflow
ofholesandelectrons,holesarenotchargesorparticlestheyrepresentthe
absence
ofanelectronataparticularlocation
electrode
:
anelectricalconductorelectronscaneitherflowintooroutofanelectrode,
dependingonwhethertheelectrodeisananodeoracathode
anode
:
theelectrodewhereelectronsflowoutofadevice
cathode
:theelectrodewhereelectronsflowintothedevice
Introduction:
Inthislabexperimentyouwillfabricateyourownversionofa
PolymerSensitizedSolarCell
(PSSC)
,anOrganicPhotovoltaic(OPV)device.Youwillstartwithaglasssubstratecoatedwith
transparentandconductivefluorinedopedtinoxide(FTO)astheanode,thenplacethe
lightsensitivepolymerontheanode,beforefinalizingthecircuitwithacounterelectrodeasthe
cathodeandanelectrolytesolution.Youwillthenexplorethepropertiesandenergyefficiencyof
yourPSSCbyexposingittonaturalandartificiallightsources,variouswavelengthsofvisible
light,andcompareittoaconventionalsiliconbasedsolarcell.
ABriefHistoryofPhotovoltaics
Dueinlargeparttotherecognitionoffossilfuelsasadwindlingresource,renewable
energiesespeciallyphotovoltaics(PVs)haveexperiencedsignificantannualgrowthoverthe
pastfiveyears.PVsareuniqueamongrenewableenergysourcesinthattheyrequireno
generators,arecustomizablebytheendusers,andareflexibleintermsoffabricationand
scalableintermsofelectricalpowersupply.However,PVsarecurrentlylimitedbytheir
relativelyhighproductioncostswhencomparedtofossilfuelsandeventootherrenewable
resources.OrganicPVtechnologiescurrentlyproposedpromisetodecreaseproductioncosts
whileincreasingmaximumefficiencies.Theseincludedyesensitizednanostructuredoxidesolar
cells(DSSCs),solidstatebulkheterojunctiondevices(BHJs),andorganicinorganiccomposite
1
devices.
WewillspecificallyfocusonaderivativeofDSSCs,calledpolymersensitizedsolar
cells,PSSCs.
BrianOReganandMichaelGrtzelatthecolePolytechniqueFdraleDeLausannein
Switzerlandmadethe firstefficientdyesensitizedsolarcell(DSSC),madefromnaturaldyes.
TheapproachusedinDSSCshasmanyadvantagesoverothersolarenergyconversion
technologiesbecauseofitssimpledeviceconstructionand inexpensiveTiO
particlesand
2
dyesthatcanbefinetunedtoincreasetheirlightabsorbingproperties.Althoughthereisstill
muchroomforimprovement,stateoftheartDSSCsconvertssolarenergyintoelectricitywith
efficienciesover10%,rivalingsomesiliconbasedtechnologies(commercialsiliconis
typicallyaround1015%).
Poly(
p
phenylenevinylene),orPPV,isusedasanelectrondonatingmaterialinorganicsolar
2
cellssoithasbeenselectedtobeusedtoconstructPSSCs.
AlthoughPPVbaseddevices
sufferfrompoorabsorptionand
photodegradation
,PPVandPPVderivatives(especially
3
MEHPPVandMDMOPPV)findfrequentapplicationinresearchcells.
Findoutmoreabout
MEHPPVbelow.
CurrentOPVtechnologiespresentseveraladvantagesbeyondloweredproductioncosts
includingflexiblesubstrates,continuousprintingprocesses(e.g.inkjet),andeasyintegration
intoothercommercialdevicesandbuildingmaterials.However,solutionstoincreaseefficiency
andlifetimemustbefoundinordertobecompetitivewithinorganictechnologies.
TheScienceBehindPolymerSensitizedSolarCells:
PSSCStructure:
Asolarcell,ororganicphotovoltaic(OPV),isalightsensitive
materialthatcancollectsolarenergyandconvertitintoelectrical
energy.Ourconjugatedpolymer,MEHPPV
(poly[2methoxy5(2ethylhexoxy)1,4phenylenevinylene),will
serveasthelightsensitivematerialandelectrondonormaterial
forourPSSC.ElectronsintheMEHPPVmoleculerespondto
specificwavelengthsoflightbybecomingexcitedandforming
excitons,thendiffusingthroughtheelectricalcircuit.
PSSCs,liketheonethatyouwillbecreating,willbemadeof:
TiO
2 nanoparticle paste white crystalline nanoparticle based pigment that absorbs
verylittlelight
MEHPPVpolymer
photoactive/lightsensitiveconductivepolymer
I
/I
electrolytetoreplenishelectronstopolymer
3
Conductiveglass
electrodes
Oneoftheconductiveglasselectrodesismadeusingapasteofextremelysmallparticlesof
TiO
(nanoparticles)thatarespreadoutinathinlayerontransparentconductiveglass.The
2
thicknessoftheTiO
filmendsupbeingroughlythethicknessofa
humanhair.
The
2
nanoparticlesprovideaHUGEsurfaceareafortheMEHPPVmoleculestobind,andthey
provideanelectronpathwayforthegeneratedelectricalcurrenttobecollected.Thedyed
electrodegoesfromwhitetoorangewhenthepolymerisapplied.Asignificantportionoflightis
absorbedbythepolymermolecules,eventhoughonlyasinglelayerofpolymermoleculesare
attachedtothesurface.
Thefinalstepsincludedryingtheelectrodeandthenassemblingthedevicewithanadditional
electrodetoformasandwichsolarcell.Thedevicehastwoelectrodes,thesensitizedTiO
2
photoelectrode(anode)andacounterelectrode(cathode).Anelectrolytesolutionisintroduced
betweenthetwoelectrodesandiscomposedofpotassiumiodideandiodine/triiodide.See
PSSCstructurein
Figure3
.
TheStoryoftheElectron:
First,thephotoactive/lightsensitiveregionofourdevice,MEHPPVlayer,willabsorbsolar
photons,allowingfortheformationofaphotogeneratedexciton.Note,afteraMEHPPV
moleculeabsorbsaphoton,ittakes
lessthan1picosecond(1012
)
tosplitthisexcitedelectron
intoanelectronandaholepair(thispairistermedanexciton)!
Second,theresultingexcitonseparates
andtransportstheelectronsandholes
totheirrespectiveelectrodes.
Fromthe
excitonpair,theelectrontravelstothe
TiO
layerandahole,stayspresenton
2
theMEHPPVmolecule.
Sometimestheelectronandholepair
donotsuccessfullymigratetotheir
correspondingelectrodesandtheresult
isarecombinedpair(See
Figure4
).
Thisexcitonisnolongerabletobe
harvestedforenergy.
Theholerelaysitspositivechargetoaniodideionintheelectrolytesolution,whichoxidizes
theelectrolyteandrestorestheMEHPPVmoleculetoitsoriginalstate.Currentisgenerated
whentheelectronsinTiO
movethroughan
externalcircuit
andrecombinewiththeoxidized
2
iodidespeciesattheconductivelayerofgraphiteonthecounterelectrode.This
combinationof
the
e
lectronwiththeI
/I
electrolytesolutionreducesthepreviouslyoxidizedspecies.See
3
6
Figure5
belowforadetailedschematic.
Theprocesscanalsobeillustratedbythefollowingequations:
OntheTiO
electrode(anode):
2
TiO
MEHPPVmolecule+photonTiO
MEHPPVmolecule*
2
2
einTiO
andholeonMEHPPVmolecule
2
Intheelectrolytesolution:
HoleonMEHPPVmolecule+2I
{possibleintermediate}Molecule+I
2
2I
I
+I
2
3
Onthegraphitecoatedcounterelectrode(cathode):
3+2e3I
where*isthecommonnotationusedwhenanelectronhasabsorbedaphoton
References:
1.G.Dennler,N.S.Sariciftci,andC.J.Brabec,Conjugatedpolymerbasedorganicsolarcells,in
SemiconductingPolymers:Chemistry,PhysicsandEngineering,2ndedition,ed.byG.Hadziioannouand
G.G.Malliaras,(WileyVCH,2007),pp.455530
2.SariciftciN.S.etal.Appl.Phys.Lett.62,585587(1993)
3.Guoetal.J.Phys.Chem.B106,44(2002)
4.
Bagher,Askari.Mohammad."IntroductiontoOrganicSolarCells."
SustainableEnergy
2.3(2014):8590.
5.
Science
18October2013:Vol.342no.6156pp.317318DOI:10.1126/science.1245473
6.
http://www.tx.ncsu.edu/tecs/people/peopledetail.cfm?id=327
7.Smestad,G.P.andGrtzel,M."DemonstratingElectronTransferandNanotechnology:ANatural
DyeSensitizedNanocrystallineEnergyConverter"J.Chem.Ed.1998,75,752.InstituteforChemical
EducationNanocrystallineSolarCellKit.(http://ice.chem.wisc.edu/Catalog/SciKits.html)
Lab1:FabricationofPolymerSensitizedSolarCell
Day1PreparingtheElectrodes
Materials:
Perclass
1bottleofnanoparticleTiO
paste(thiscontainsamixtureofTiO
2
2
nanoparticles,water,andsurfactant)25mL
2Multimeterswithprobes
Hotplatefoillinedforeasyremoval.
Perstudentgroup:
2transparentconductiveFTOglassplates(electrodes)
one2.5cmlongx2cmwideelectrodeone2.5cmlongx1cmwideelectrode
1rollofscotchtape
1plasticpipetteforTiO
paste
2
1pastespreader(thiscanbeanyrigidstraightedge,i.eglassstirringrod,glassslide)
1forceportweezer
1graphitepencil
TimeRequired:20mins(slideprep),1hour(sinter)
Safety:
Carefulwhenusinghotplate
StudentProcedure:
PreparingtheTiO
Electrode:
2
1. Gathermaterialsneededforpreparationoftheelectrode2.5cmlongx2cmwideFTO
glassslide,TiO
paste,aplasticpipette,pastespreader,and
2
scotchtape.TakecarenottotouchthefaceoftheFTOglass
slidehandlethesidesoftheglasselectrodeonly.
2. Takethe2.5cmx2cmconductiveFTOglassslideandensure
thatthe
conductive
sideisfacingup.
a. How?
Dothisbyusingthemultimeterprobestomeasure
resistanceacrossanytwopointsontheglasssurface.Be
surethemultimeterissetto
resistancemode(200)
.
Typicalresistancesoftheconductivesideshouldbe
between1030ohms().Ifthemultimeterisnot
indicatinganyresistance,thenturntheelectrodeover
andmeasureagain.
3. Findaclean,flatsurfacetotapedownyourglasselectrodeas
indicatedin
Figure5
below.
UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015
4. OntheleftandrightedgeoftheFTOglasselectrodeapplyscotchtape,leavinga1.5cm
gapofopenglassdownthemiddlelengthoftheelectrodefortheapplicationofTiO
2
pastelater.(See
Figure5a
below)
a. thewidertheopenlane,thebetter!
5. Usingaplasticpipette,dripafewdrops(34drops)oftheTiO
solutionhalfwaydown
2
thecenteroftheopenglasslaneandimmediatelyspreaditdownthelengthoftheFTO
glassusingasqueegeemotion(usingapastespreader,squeegeeitdownandup
once).Thescotchtapeshouldactasabumper,allowingforanevencoatingofthe
centerlane.(See
Figure5band5c)
.
a. IftheTiO
pastedoesntcoattheentireexposedsurface,quicklydripafewmore
2
dropsofthepasteontotheexposedareasandresqueegeetheentirefilm.
b. IftherearepuddlesofTiO
pasteontheslide,spreadoutonceagainwitha
2
squeegeemotion,pullinganyexcesspasteoffthebottomoftheslide.
6. Allowtheelectrodestodry,undisturbedforafewminutes(510mins).Whilewaiting,
rinsethepipetteandpastespreaderwithwatertoremovetheremainingTiO
paste.
2
7. Usingtheforcepsoryourfingers,removethescotchtapefromthedriedTiO
electrode.
2
Carefullywipeanyremainingwhitepasteoffthebottomorsidesoftheglassusinga
moistpapertowel.
UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015
8. Usingforceps,carefullyplacetheTiO
electrodeontoahotplate(450).Theelectrode
2
isready(fullysintered)afteritdarkensincolorandthenturnsbrightwhite(~30mins).
a. Duringthiswaittime,previewtheremainderoftheprocedureandprepare
thecounterelectrodeasinstructedbelow.
b. Usetweezersorforcepstoremovetheelectrodefromthehotplate,handlingit
onlyontheedges.Allowtheelectrodetocoolfor15minutesbysettingiton
aluminumfoillinedtray.
Coolingtooquicklycancausetheglasselectrodeto
fracture!
i.
Option
Theclasssetofelectrodescanberemovedfromthehotplate
simultaneouslybyremovingthealuminumfoilthatisliningthehotplate.
Thiswillallowforallelectrodestoslowlycoolwithoutriskingfracturing.
PreparingtheCounterElectrode:
1. TakethesmallerpieceofconductiveFTOglass(2.5cmx1cm)
andusethemultimetertofindtheconductivesideoftheglass
(sameprocedureasstep2above).
2. Useagraphitepenciltocoattheentiresurfaceoftheconductive
sidewithalayerofgraphite.
InLabQuestions:
Reviewthebackgroundinformationasneeded.
1. WhatisthepurposeoftheTiO
layer?
2
2. Whatisthepurposeofthegraphitelayer?
10
Lab2:InvestigatingPropertiesofPhotovoltaic
Devices
StudentProcedure:Day2PreparingSolarCell
Materials:
Perclass
1bottleofI
/I
electrolytesolution
3
1glasscapillarytubeforelectrolytesolution
1bottleofMEHPPVinchloroformsolutioninfumehood
multimeterswithprobes
overheadprojector
Perstudentgroup
1preparedTiO
electrode
2
1preparedgraphitecoatedcounterelectrode
2smallbinderclips
1plasticpipette
1squeezebottleofdistilledwater
1squeezebottleofethanol
1tweezerorforcep
1wastebeaker
TimeRequired:60mins
Safety:
SafetyhandletheMEHPPVsolutioninafumehoodorwellventilatedareaWearglovesand
goggles.
Procedure:
DyeingtheTiO
ElectrodeandAssemblingtheOPV:
2
1. Attainthecooled,preparedTiO
glasselectrodeandplaceitonapapertowel.
2
2. READCOMPLETELYBEFOREPROCEEDING!
Inthefumehood,applyMEHPPV
solutionontotheTiO
nanoparticles.Ensurethattheelectrodeisfullycoveredwith
2
MEHPPVsolution.ThewhiteTiO
pasteshouldturnorangethroughout(see
Figure7
2
below).
11
a. How?
Usingaplasticpipette,take~0.25mLofMEHPPVsolutionandslowly
dropandspreadtheMEHPPVsolutionovertheTiO
layerusingthediagonal
2
methodshownin
Figure7.
Thesolutionwillspreadontheelectrodeeasily,but
begintodryrapidly,socompletethisstepquickly!Allowthesolventtoevaporate
fullyinthefumehood.Thistypicallytakesabout5minutes.
b. DispenseanyunusedMEHPPVpolymersolutionbackintotheoriginal
container.
i.
Anice,thicklayershouldisoptimal,sodontbescaredtoputthefull
0.25mL(thisisnotlikethethinlayerneededintheOLEDexperiment)!
3. Setupasmallwastebeakertorinseresidueandfluidinto(seebelow).
4. OnceMEHPPVlooksdry,removetheglasselectrodefromthefumehoodwithforceps.
RinsethepolymersensitizedTiO
electrodewithdistilledwaterusingasqueezebottle.
2
Thenthoroughlyrinseagainwithisopropylalcoholintothewastebeaker.Allowthe
electrodetodryfor510minutes.
5. AssemblethepolymersensitizedTiO
electrode(orange)withthecounterelectrode
2
(graphite)using2binderclipstoformasandwichthinfilmcell(see
Figure8
below).
MakesurethatthegraphitecoatingistouchingthepolymerTiO
surfaceandavoid
2
overlappingthebareglasselectrodes(thesides).Thethinnergraphitecoatedelectrode
shouldlineupwiththeTiO
line,butoffsetsothatthealligatorclipcanbeattachedto
2
eachindividualelectrode.
Figure8:ConstructionoftheSolarCellSandwich
6. Usingaglasscapillarytube,fillthespacebetweenthetwoelectrodeswith
iodide/triiodide(I
/I
)electrolytesolution.Thisisdonebyremovingonebinderclip,
3
applyingelectrolytesolutiontothejunctionoftheelectrodes,thenallowthesolutionto
UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015
12
wickupbetweentheelectrodesbycapillaryaction.Alternateremoving/attachingeach
binderclip,oneatatime,tofacilitatethisaction.Thespacebetweentheglass
electrodesshouldturnslightlyyellowandbeentirelywettedbythesolution.
a. Fillthegapononesideonlywiththeelectrolytesolution,itwillspread!
**Nowyourpolymersensitizedsolarcellconstructioniscomplete!Getamultimeterfor
propertiesandefficiencytesting!**
7. Attachthetwocrocclipstothepositiveterminalandnegativeterminalofthemultimeter
probes.Thesecrocclipswillserveasattachmentstobetweenyoursolarcelland
multimeter.
8. Totestyoursolarcell,clampthecrocclipattachedtothepositiveterminal(red)ofthe
multimeterprobetothegraphiteelectrode.Clampthecrocclipattachedtothenegative
terminal(black)tothepolymerTiO
electrode.See
Figure9
below.
2
9. Measurethevoltageandcurrentobtainedin3differentlightsettings(detailed
instructionsbelowinstep10).
a. room(ambient)light
b. underoverheadprojector
c. outsideindirectsun
i.
Besuretoplacethepolymersensitizedelectrode
facing
thelightsource
(thismeansthesunpenetratesthroughtheTiO
layertothepolymer).
2
ii.
Seewhathappenstotheparametersifyouflipthedeviceoversothatthe
lightisgoingthroughthecounterelectrodefirst.Recordyourresults.
10. Tomeasurevoltage
,switchtheindicatorto
DCV(DirectCurrentVoltage)
tothe
lowestsetting,200m.Ifitreadsa1,thevoltageistoolargeforthatsettingandyoumust
switchtothenextlevel,2000m(turnitclockwise).Continuethisprocessuntilyou
observeareadingotherthan1.
a. Thewillbereadinmillivolts(mV).
13
11. Tomeasurecurrent
,switchtheindicatorto
DCA(DirectCurrentAmperage)
tothe
lowestsetting,200.Again,ifyousee1onthedisplay,switchtheindicatorclockwiseto
thenextsettingandrepeatuntilameaningfulvalueisobtained.
a. Thiswillbereadinmicroamps(A).
12. Recordyourresultsinthedatatable.
13. Usingyourvalues,calculatethepowergeneratedfromyourPSSC.
DataTable:
RoomLight
OverheadProjector
LIght
OutdoorSunlight(list
outdoorconditions)
PSSCVoltage
PSSCCurrent
PSSCPower
OtherObservations:
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
14
Inquiry&InLabQuestions
Investigation1:
TheMEHPPVpolymerabsorbsarangeofwavelengthsofvisiblelight,butit
absorbsmostefficientlybetween470nm530nm(see
Figure9
below).Whatwouldhappenif
youfilterthelightthatthesolarcellisexposedtousingagreenfilter?Comparethiswithwhat
happenswhenyouusedifferentcoloredfilters.
Howdothesefilterswork?Coloredfiltersabsorbarangeoflightwavelengths,
whilethecolorofthefilteristhecoloroflightthatistransmittedbythefilter.
1. Whathappenswhenyouinsertacoloredfilter(red,blue,green,yellow,etc)betweenthe
PSSCandthelight?
a. Explainwhythishappenedaccordingtothecharacteristicabsorptionof
MEHPPV.
2. Doesthecolormatter?Why?
GraphfromSigmaAldrich
15
Investigation2:
Thesolarcellsthathavebeenconstructedrequireacoloredpolymer,TiO
2
nanoparticles,andelectrolytetofunction.Whataretheeffectsofremovingoneormoreof
thesecomponentsfromthecell?
(Seekpermissionfromyourteachertorecreateyoursolarcell
byremovingvariouscomponentsifneeded)
1. Explainwhyeachcomponentiscrucialfortheoperationofapolymersensitizedsolar
cell.
a. theelectrolyte(I
andKIiodineandpotassiumiodide)
2
b. TiO
nanoparticles
2
c. MEHPPVpolymer
Usethelinesbelowtoexplaineacheffectlistedabove.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
16
AnalysisQuestions:CheckingforUnderstanding
1. Wheredoesthepowercomefromwhenweareusingthesolarcell?
2. Whatcausestheelectronsinthepolymertomove?
3. WhatsideoftheglasselectrodedidyouapplytheTiO
layer?(conductiveor
2
nonconductive)Why?
4. Whenthepolymerlosesanelectron,isthepolymerbeingoxidizedorreduced?
5. Graphiteismadeupoflayersofcarbon.Whatisoursourceofgraphitewhenwecoat
ourcounterelectrodewithit?Whatdoyouthinkwillhappentotheperformanceofthe
PSSCifitwasilluminatedthroughthisgraphiteelectrodefirst?
6. TheTIO
pasteiswhiteandusedinmanycommercialproducts:whitepaint,toothpaste,
2
powdereddoughnuts,etc.Whydoweneedtousethedarkcoloredpolymertomakeour
solarcellwork?(Hint:Thinkabouthowlightisreflectedorabsorbed)
7. TheTiO
pasteusedforthislabtocreatethinfilmpolymersensitizedsolarcellsismade
2
upoftiny(nanometersized25nm)TiO
particles.Onenanometer(1nm)isonebillionth
2
ofameter,or0.000000001m.Whatisthisnumberinscientificnotation?
8. Whyisitimportanttousenanometersizedparticlesforthefilm?Usethewordssurface
areainyourexplanationandincludeanillustration.
9. Drawinthedirectioninwhichtheelectronsmovethroughthepolymersensitizedsolar
cellinthepotentialenergydiagrambelow.Thephotoexcitationyellowarrowisincluded
toindicatethatsunlightisexcitingthepolymer.
17
Explainthesimilarities(viaelectronflowarrows)betweenthetwoenergyleveldiagramsshown
belowwiththegalvaniccellontheleftandthePSSCdiagramontheright?Whatdoesthe
large,brightblue(aqua)doublearrowrepresentineachdiagram?Howisitcreatedineach
cell?
Cleanup:
Disassembleyoursolarcell.Returnallbinderclipstoyourteacher.
Rinseofftheelectrolyteandallowittodry.
LeavetheMEHPPVsensitizedTiO
outanditwillslowlybleach/fadeaway.TheseFTO
2
glassslidescanthenbesavedforfutureuse.
18
OptionalExtensions:
OptionalMaterialsforextensionactivities:
Siliconsolarcell
Pencilleadsgraphite
NaClinwater0.1Msolution
UsingthePowerfromthePSSCstopoweraLightEmittingDiode(LED):
ChooseseveralPSSCswiththebestperformanceandconnectthembacktobackinseries
usingalligatorclips.TheconnectionbetweeneverypairofcellsmustbefromapolymerTiO
2
electrodeononetoagraphitecounterelectrodeontheother.Thefinalendsoftheconnected
cellsshouldbehookeduptotheLED.
HowmanyofthemareneededtopowertheLED?
DoesitmatterwhichleadfromtheseriallyconnectedPSSCsisconnectedtowhichlead
totheLED?
StoringthepowerfromthePSSCsinChemicalBondsasFuel:
Thesunsetslocallyeverynight,sowhathappenstothesolarenergywevecapturedbythe
PSSC?Well,ifitisntusedimmediatelyaselectricity,thenitislost!Thatis,unlessitisstoredin
theformofchemicalbonds.Justlikeinphotosynthesis,wheresolarenergyisconvertedinto
chemicalenergyintheformofglucose,wecanstoresolarenergyobtainedfromPSSCsinthe
formofchemicalbonds.Thesechemicalcompoundscanthenbeusedasusefulfuel.Hydrogen
(H
)isacleanfuelthatcanbeburnedjustlikegasoline.
2
1. UsingPSSCsconnectedinseries,attachthefinalleadsofthecircuittotwographite
pencilleads.Graphiteisaconductivematerialandwillserveintheelectrolysisofwater.
a. NoteBesuretoplacethePSSCscircuitsoitisfacingthelightsource.
ElectrolysisofWater:
2H
O2H
+O
2
2
2
DrawouttheLewisstructuresoftheabovemoleculesandlabelthetypesof
bondsineachcompound.
2. ImmersethegraphitepencilleadsintoasmallbeakerofNaClsolution(saltwater).Look
closelyforbubblesformingoneitheroftheendsofgraphiteimmersedintothesolution.
Bepatient,thismaytakeafewminutes.
a. Ifthisdoesnotwork,tryaddingmorePSSCsinseries.
3. Writedownobservationsandhypothesizewhatthebubblescontain.
ComparingPSSCsandSiliconSolarCells:
1. MeasuretheexposedareaofyourPSSC.
2. Usingblackelectricaltape,maskoffanareaonthecommercialsiliconsolarcellthatis
approximatelythesameareaasyouPSSC.
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3. Measurethevoltageandcurrentobtainedforthesiliconsolarcellunderthelight
conditionsusedforthePSSC.Forthemeasurementontheoverheadprojector,attach
twobinderclipstothesiliconcellinthesamewayasthePSSC,sothatthesiliconcellis
paralleltotheprojectorlensandatasimilarheightasthePSSC.Compareresults.
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