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
J. Chem. Educ., 2007, 84 (2), p 253
DOI: 10.1021/ed084p253
Publication Date (Web): February 1, 2007
History, Education, and Documentation

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.

Keywords (Audience):

Second-Year Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Organic Chemistry

Keywords (Subject):

Applications of Chemistry
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  • Received: August 03, 2009

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