Module3:PolymerSolarCell

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)

UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015

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.

UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015

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

UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015

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.

UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015

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

UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015

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)

UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015


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?

UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015

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).

UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015

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

Image 1a and 1b: Assembly of the polymer-sensitized solar cell

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).

UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015

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:
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015

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

UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015

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.

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015

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.

UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015

17

Explainthesimilarities(viaelectronflowarrows)betweenthetwoenergyleveldiagramsshown
belowwiththegalvaniccellontheleftandthePSSCdiagramontheright?Whatdoesthe
large,brightblue(aqua)doublearrowrepresentineachdiagram?Howisitcreatedineach
cell?

Cleanup:

Disassembleyoursolarcell.Returnallbinderclipstoyourteacher.
Rinseofftheelectrolyteandallowittodry.
LeavetheMEHPPVsensitizedTiO
outanditwillslowlybleach/fadeaway.TheseFTO
2
glassslidescanthenbesavedforfutureuse.

UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015

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.

UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015

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3. Measurethevoltageandcurrentobtainedforthesiliconsolarcellunderthelight
conditionsusedforthePSSC.Forthemeasurementontheoverheadprojector,attach
twobinderclipstothesiliconcellinthesamewayasthePSSC,sothatthesiliconcellis
paralleltotheprojectorlensandatasimilarheightasthePSSC.Compareresults.

UNC Charlotte | Department of Chemistry | Enlow, Walter, Marin 2015

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