Introduction
The Grätzel Cell, or dye-sensitized solar cell is an solar cell that uses titanium dioxide as its semiconductor, a dye as the light absorber, and an iodine relay as an electron shuttle. It functions by absorbing photons and transferring excited electrons through the TIO2 to perform work, like a silicon solar cell. The cell is regenerated through the anode with I-/I-3.
Hypothesis
If we use a blueberry juice-coated electrode in combination with a soot-covered electrode, then our output will be higher than the blackberry cells because the blueberry dye appears to absorb more wavelengths.
Procedures
Abstract
Alternative energy options, especially solar power, are a big part of today’s energy economy. Over the course of three weeks we built and tested several different solar cells with differing dyes and electrode materials to determine which combination would have the highest performance. We tested 3 cells of each combination of blueberry or blackberry dye and soot or graphite catalysts. Of the 12 cells, those with blueberry dye and a soot backing had the highest voltage and current.
Results and Analysis
The blueberry cells had an average voltage of 341 ± 72 mVOC and an average current of 41 ± 22 µASC. There was an outlier with a voltage of 200 mVOC and a current of 5 µASC. The blackberry cells had an average voltage of 258.2 ± 45 mVOC and an average current of 27 ± 9 µASC.
Conclusion
The blueberry-soot results confirm our initial hypothesis that the blueberry-soot cells would perform the best. Our testing was not perfect, but the most that could be accomplished in a short time. The results add to the knowledge about the potential of non-silicon based solar cells.
Materials
Problem
Which berry-based dye and carbon catalytic coating combination will result in the best current and voltage output from the solar cells when they are exposed to a black body radiator?
By Mohini Schaefers, Ben Goldberg, Loki Dunbar, and Inara Jensen
Discussion
The most efficient solar cells were formed from a darker juice and a more effective counter electrode. The blueberry did better due to its red shifted absorption; there are more available red photons than blue. Solar cell US4 was an outlier because we had to reconstruct the cell after it was already clamped together.
Acknowledgements: We thank Dr. Brian Leigh, Dr. Robert Pomeroy, and Dr. Michael Tauber for their teachings and the knowledge they shared, Jonathan Ty for his instruction and moral support, and Anton Samoylov for his insight and
Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells