Simple photovoltaic cells for exploring solar energy concepts (original) (raw)
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Renewable Energy, 2010
Simple dye-sensitized solar cells were developed using blackboard chalk as a substrate for mixed ZnO and SnO 2 films that were sensitized with Mercurochrome (Merbromine) dye. Graphite pencil ''leads'' were used as counter electrodes for the cells and the electrolyte consisted of an aqueous solution of iodine and potassium iodide that was gelled with a disinfectant containing quaternary ammonium compounds and cyanoacrylate adhesive (Superglue Ò). The open circuit potential of constructed cells was typically 0.50-0.64 V and the short circuit current varied between 0.5 and 2.0 mA cm À2. The cells were developed as an educational resource that could be simply and safely constructed in a home or school environment with readily accessible materials.
Hand made solar cells from chlorophyll for teaching in high school energy education
International Journal of Ambient Energy, 2020
High school students show more motivation to learn new concepts when these are taken from activities that mimic real life. Then, we report an easy methodology based on the fabrication of handmade solar cells to produce clean energy from chlorophyll a (chl-a) extracted from the leaves of Diacol Capiro potato. Our findings show that there is no proportionality between the chl-a concentration and the output voltage. The results also indicated that nickel-silver electrodes were the most efficient among other tested electrode pairs, yielding a maximum voltage value of 1.006 V from an individual cell. Therefore, a low-cost natural dye as chlorophyll can be used as light-harvesting material. As a result, 90% of the students learned basic techniques and applications of visible light for characterizations and 85% understood the electric potential in an electrochemical cell.
Alternative Solar Cells and Their Implications An Interactive Qualifying Project
Alternative solar cells can have practical implications for renewable energy production. This study mainly focuses on electrolytic solar cells which can serve as an alternate to solid state solar panels. A thorough evaluation of the performance of existing solar cells (a-Si and c-Si) was conducted first, before designing a concurrent solar cell. As a next step, a custom electrolytic solar cell was built. Our custom electrolytic solar cell consisting of a cuprous oxide electrode produced a potential difference up to 80 mV and a steady current of 4 mA. Various factors such as light intensity, concentration of the electrolyte, surface area of the electrodes and the distance between the electrodes were tested.
Education and Solar conversion
A simplified solar cell fabrication procedure is presented that uses natural anthocyanin or chlorophyll dyes extracted from plants. This procedure illustrates how interdisciplinary science can be taught at lower division university and upper division high school levels for an understanding of renewable energy as well as basic science concepts. Electron transfer occurs on the Earth in the mitochondrial membranes found in living cells, and in the thylakoid membranes found in the photosynthetic cells of green plants. Since we depend on the results of this electron and energy transfer, e.g. in our use of petroleum and agricultural products, it is desirable to understand and communicate how the electron transfer works. The simplified solar cell fabrication procedure, based on nanocrystalline dye-sensitized solar cells, has therefore been developed so that it can be inexpensively reproduced and utilized in the teaching of basic principles in biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science. A water-based solution of commercial nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO ) powder is used to deposit a highly porous semiconductor electron acceptor. This acceptor couples the light-driven processes occurring at an organic dye to the macroscopic world and an external electrical circuit. Materials science and semiconductor physics are emphasized during the deposition of the sintered TiO nanocrystalline ceramic film. Chelation, complexation and molecular self-assembly are demonstrated during the attachment of the dye molecule to the surface of the TiO semiconductor particles. Environmental chemistry and energy conversion can be linked to these concepts via the regenerative oxidation and reduction cycle found in the cell. The resulting device, made in under 3 h, can be used as a light detector or power generator that produces 0.4-0.5 V at open circuit, and 1-2 mA per square cm under solar illumination.
a report on types of solar cells and their uses
solar cells and their uses
The Earth endures a marvellous supply of solar power. The sun, an average star, is a mixture activator that has existed blazing for over 4 billion years. It supports enough strength in individual minutes to supply the globe's energy needs for individual old age. Sooner or later, it supports more strength than our current population would expend at 27 ages. In fact, "The amount of energy from the sun beautiful the earth over a three-epoch ending is equivalent to the strength stocked in all relic strength beginnings." Solar energy is a free, tireless resource, still controlling it is somewhat creative. Considering that "the first proficient solar containers were fashioned inferior 30 times gone by," we have come to a great distance. The extension of solar professional guests designing singular and distinguishing energy from undepletable source methods for individual families means skilled is not any more an excuse not to contemplate energy from the sun for your home. The biggest jumps in effectiveness reached "accompanying the onset of the transistor and following semiconductor science. There are various benefits of photovoltaic solar power that manage "individual of ultimate hopeful energy from undepletable source sources in the globe." It is non-polluting, has no exciting parts that manage break below, requires little support and no project, and has a history of 20-30 age with depressed running costs. It is exceptionally singular cause no big installation is necessary. Remote extents can surely produce their supply of power by constructing as limited or as abundant of order as wanted. Solar power generators are utterly delivered to houses, schools, or trades, where their congregation demands no extra growth or land district, and their function is dependable and quiet. As communities evolve, more solar radiation competency may be added. Solar energy is the most wanted contemporary in underdeveloped countries, the fastest increasing segment of the photovoltaic's display. People deny or be denied power as the sunlight subdues the land, making solar power the apparent strength choice. "Governments are judgment allure modular, distributed type ideal for contents the energetic needs of the thousands of detached villages in their nations." It is much more efficient than the enlargement of expensive capacity lines into detached extents, place communities do not have the money to finance common power. There are only two basic disadvantages to utilizing energy from an undepletable source: the amount of light part of every 24 hours and the cost of supplies.
FABRICATION AND ELECTRICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF Cu-Cu2O PHOTO ELECTRO CHEMICAL SOLAR CELLS
FUDMA Journal of Science (FJS), 2023
Solar energy is recognized as a unique conventional energy source. Photoelectrochemical solar cells (PEC) of copper (i) oxide (Cu2O) is studied in this work on account of it non-toxic nature and the low cost of the material. Copper (i) oxide is prepared by partial thermal oxidation of copper foils at 970 0 c and used as one electrode, while copper foil is used as the counter electrode. The photo electrochemical solar cells (PEC) device is contained in a cylindrical white plastic container (which is transparent to light) using sodium chloride as an electrolyte. When tested under full sunlight in Katsina town, a short circuit current (Isc) of 180µA, an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 70 mV, a fill-factor (FF) of 0.27, and an electrical power conversion efficiency,(Ƞ) of 1.013 × 10-3 % were obtained respectively.
Research in solar cell technologies at Tallinn University of Technology
Thin Solid Films, 2008
The paper summarizes the results of R/D in new alternative materials and in thin film and monograin solar cells at EU Centre of Excellence in PV Materials and Devices at TUT. The defect structure of various chalcopyrite compounds (CuInSe 2 , CuInS 2 , CuGaSe 2 , CuGaTe 2 , AgGaTe 2 , CuInTe 2 , AgInTe 2, Cu 2 ZnSnSe 4 ) was studied. A novel route of spray deposition was developed to prepare ZnO layers comprising nanorods as a promising material for solar cells. Technological conditions for controlled ZnS chemical bath deposition were determined. The influence of parameters of electrodeposition and annealings in different atmosphere to the composition and morphology of CuInSe 2 thin films was studied. Hybrid solar cells on the basis of CuInS 2 and CdTe photoabsorbers in combination with organic functional layers were prepared and investigated. All the obtained results were used to optimize the technology of producing solar cell structures in different designs.