20.109(F11): Mod 3 Day 5 Solar cell testing: Difference between revisions
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=<center>Solar Cell Testing</center>= | =<center>Solar Cell Testing</center>= | ||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
Over the first four lab sessions of this module, you have completed the anode portion of | Over the first four lab sessions of this module, you have completed the anode portion of a dye-sensitized solar cell, which means that your device currently has the ability to absorb light with dye molecules and use that energy to inject electrons through a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) shuttle into the start of an external circuit. However, in order for this to create electrical power, you must complete the external circuit with a counter-electrode and you must have a redox mediator that accepts electrons from this counter-electrode and recycles them back to the dye molecules. The image below represents the fully completed dye-sensitized solar cell that you'll have built by the end of today. | ||
Once completed, you will get to test one of the most important comparative factors for all existing solar technologies, the "solar conversion efficiency"; this is a measure of the total amount of electrical power produced for a given amount of solar power shining upon the cell. It should be remembered though that many other factors of solar technologies, such as ease and cost of manufacturing, durability, and cost of materials are imperative to consider when contrasting different types of solar cells and could make impractical even those that are the most conversion efficient. | Once completed, you will get to test one of the most important comparative factors for all existing solar technologies, the "solar conversion efficiency"; this is a measure of the total amount of electrical power produced for a given amount of solar power shining upon the cell. It should be remembered though that many other factors of solar technologies, such as ease and cost of manufacturing, durability, and cost of materials are imperative to consider when contrasting different types of solar cells and could make impractical even those that are the most conversion efficient. | ||
[[Image:Screen shot 2011-11-21 at 3.51.22 PM.png]] | [[Image:Screen shot 2011-11-21 at 3.51.22 PM.png]] | ||
Revision as of 17:53, 21 November 2011
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Solar Cell Testing
Introduction
Over the first four lab sessions of this module, you have completed the anode portion of a dye-sensitized solar cell, which means that your device currently has the ability to absorb light with dye molecules and use that energy to inject electrons through a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) shuttle into the start of an external circuit. However, in order for this to create electrical power, you must complete the external circuit with a counter-electrode and you must have a redox mediator that accepts electrons from this counter-electrode and recycles them back to the dye molecules. The image below represents the fully completed dye-sensitized solar cell that you'll have built by the end of today.
Once completed, you will get to test one of the most important comparative factors for all existing solar technologies, the "solar conversion efficiency"; this is a measure of the total amount of electrical power produced for a given amount of solar power shining upon the cell. It should be remembered though that many other factors of solar technologies, such as ease and cost of manufacturing, durability, and cost of materials are imperative to consider when contrasting different types of solar cells and could make impractical even those that are the most conversion efficient.
