Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Making a Solid State Organic Photovoltaic Cell More Efficient and Economically Beneficial: The Relationship Between Dielectric Constant, Exciton Diffusion Length and Efficiency
EPA Grant Number: SU835300Title: Making a Solid State Organic Photovoltaic Cell More Efficient and Economically Beneficial: The Relationship Between Dielectric Constant, Exciton Diffusion Length and Efficiency
Investigators: Scott, Dane W , Soden, Cody , Smith, Josh , Berdugo, Laura , Nelson, Toby
Institution: East Central University , Oklahoma State University
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Phase: I
Project Period: August 15, 2012 through August 14, 2013
Project Amount: $15,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2012) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Air Quality , P3 Challenge Area - Chemical Safety , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
Solar cells are devices that convert solar energy into electricity but are not used in our everyday lives as they have limitations such as cost, availability, stability and they are not efficient. The novel approach to studying this problem will use charged polymeric membranes to increase the dielectric constant of the solar cell with the goal of improving stability, lowering cost and increasing efficiency of solid state organic solar cells.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The fabricated solar cell showed an output of 34.5 mV and 0.66 µA. The current cell is currently undergoing a modification in which the charged layer is added and will be tested next week. These results will be presented at the expo. This cell is expected to exhibit a higher overall output and serves the basis for phase II funding which will eliminate the indium tin oxide layer making the solar cell inexpensive and marketable. This applies directly to the P3 objectives of making our way of life not only more sustainable, but allowing everyone to benefit from this technology.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this projectThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.