Updated September 2011 Electronics Applications in Nanotechnology Copper Oxide Solar Cells

Updated September 2011 Image by HighPoint Learning

Updated September 2011 Image by HighPoint Learning

Updated September 2011 Image by HighPoint Learning

Updated September 2011 Image by HighPoint Learning

Updated September 2011 Image by HighPoint Learning

Updated September 2011 Image by HighPoint Learning

Updated September 2011 Image by HighPoint Learning

Updated September 2011 Image by HighPoint Learning

Updated September 2011 Calculate and record the Power Power (Watts) = Voltage (Volts) x Current (Amps) Measure the Surface Area of the copper oxide Area (meter 2 ) = Length (meter) x Width (meter)

Updated September 2011 Power of solar cell =______________ W Surface Area of the copper oxide = ______m 2 Sun’s Energy = 1000 W/m 2 Calculate the Efficiency of the cell %Efficiency = Power (watts) Sun’s Energy (Watts/meter 2 ) x Surface Area (meter 2 ) Efficiency = _______________%

Updated September 2011 Image courtesy National Renewable Engergy Laboratories

Updated September 2011 Compare the Surface Areas of these cells r =1.25 A= length x width + 2πrh = A= length x width = 9 h=1.5 Images by HighPoint Learning

Updated September 2011 Although the Efficiency should stay the same, increasing the Surface Area is a valid strategy to make an inefficient cell usable. A= length x width + 2πrh x64 = r =.125 h=1.5 Image by HighPoint Learning

Updated September 2011 %Efficiency = Power (watts) ÷ Sun’s Energy (Watts/meter 2 ) x Surface Area (meter 2 ) 0.9W2.078W8.44W Image by HighPoint Learning

Updated September 2011 cc by Kristian Molhave

Updated September 2011 Dye Sensitized Solar Cells cc by M.R. Jones cc by Ronald Sastrawan

Updated September 2011 How is nanotechnology being used in solar applications? What are some of the new materials in solar cells? What are some new strategies being used in solar cells?

Updated September 2011 This module is one of a series designed to introduce faculty and high school students to the basic concepts of nanotechnology. Each module includes a PowerPoint presentation, discussion questions, and hands-on activities, when applicable. The series was funded in part by: The National Science Foundation Grant DUE and the Oklahoma Nanotechnology Education Initiative Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the Oklahoma Nanotechnology Education Initiative.

Updated September 2011 Image Credits Jones, M.R. (Designer). Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Scheme.png [Digital Diagram]. Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org) Molhave, Kristian (Professor) and Martinsson, Thomas (Designer), Epitaxial Nanowire Heterostructures SEM image.jpg [Scanning Electron Microscope image], United Kingdom, Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Designer). Carbon Nanotubes.jpg [Digital Image]. United States. Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org) Sastrawan, Ronald. (Designer). Dye.sensitized.solar.cells.jpg [Digital Image]. Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org)

Updated September 2011 References Berger, Michael. (2010). Improved design for dye-sensitized solar cells includes quantum dot antennas. NanoWerk. Retrieved from Grätzel, Michael. (2003). Dye-sensitized solar cells. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology C: Photochemistry Reviews. Issue 4. Pages 145–153. Williams, Linda and Dr. Wade Adams. (2007). Nanotechnology Demystified. [Kindle Version] doi: / Wilson, Michael, Kanangara, Kamali, Smith, Geoff, Simmons, Michelle, & Raguse, Burkhard. (2004). Nanotechnology: Basic Science and Emerging Technologies. [Kindle Edition] Retrieved from