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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2007  > February  >
In the Classroom
Plastic Solar Cells: A Multidisciplinary Field To Construct Chemical Concepts from Current Research
Rafael Gómez and José L. Segura
Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
Cover
February 2007
Vol. 84 No. 2
p. 253
Abstract
We present a multidisciplinary approach to the field of organic solar cells and propose examples of this technology to illustrate core concepts in chemistry. The principles of operation of a plastic solar cell can be used to introduce key issues such as the photovoltaic effect or the photoinduced electron-transfer process. From a spectroscopic perspective, we show how the optical bandgap of the light-absorbing components can be correlated with their physical and electronic structures. From the materials science point of view, the principal concept of molecular design is introduced showing how the evolution of the synthesis of organic molecules and polymers has provided materials with tailored properties. The importance of multidisciplinarity in research is presented showing that only the collaborative effort between synthetic chemists, who design and synthesize the materials, and the physicists, materials scientists, and engineers has made possible the advance of the field.
Supplement
A background to organic photovoltaics, including a figure with the most representative molecular organic materials first used in photovoltaics devices, a schematic drawing of a solar cell with a blend of conjugated polymer and [60]fullerene, and a schematic showing the easy preparation of polymer films by different techniques are available.
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Contents
  JCE2007p0253W.pdf
 
JCE2007p0253W.zip
Sup_2005-0295.doc (Microsoft Word)
More Information
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Citation
Gómez, Rafael; Segura, José L. J. Chem. Educ. 2007 84 253.
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Keywords
Applications of Chemistry; General Public; Materials Science; Molecular Properties / Structure; Multidisciplinary Programs; Organic Chemistry; Synthesis
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History
Created:
Last Updated:
1/9/2007
2/16/2007
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