Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Spring 2010

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Chemistry

Committee Chair

Dr. Dion Rivera, Department of Chemistry

Second Committee Member

Dr. Anthony Diaz, Department of Chemistry

Third Committee Member

Dr. Audrey D. Huerta, Director Science Honors Research Program

Abstract

Three different types of fully integrated ZnS quantum dot-TiO2 nanoparticle gels were used to create films for usage in photovoltaic cells. The films were annealed onto TEC-8 F:SnO2 conductive glass electrode and the cell was completed by adding a polyolsolvated I/I3 redox couple to the film and capping the cell with a counter electrode constructed of graphite-coated TEC-8 glass. Electrical output of the cells under a 360 W halogen light source and a natural or simulated (1000 W xenon arc lamp) sunlight source were estimated by multi-meter. The highest absolute energy conversion efficiency seen was from an acidified quantum dot fil variant under natural/simulated sunlight (0.2050% ± 27% RSD). Comparison by 95% confidence Student's t showed that the acidified quantum dot films showed significant output versus acidified water films, and that introducing polymers into films caused a significant decrease in output, A correlation was found between the lack of film fluorescence and the light conversion ability of the film cell.

Comments

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