Abstract
Over the last several years, interest in thin-film, nanoparticle-based solar cells have increased due to their potential to be low cost, tunable, and highly efficient when compared to other current solar cell technologies. In this research, cadmium selenide nanoparticles capped by oleic acid (CdSe-OLA) were synthesized. After those nanoparticles were synthesized, the bulky oleic acid ligand was exchanged with much smaller, more tunable ligands such as vanillic acid, malic acid, and Sodium 2,3-Dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate (DMPS). This allows for easier energy transfer when applied to a solar cell. The successful synthesis of these nanoparticles was confirmed using FTIR, UV-vis, and NMR spectroscopy. Using these nanoparticles, thin-film solar cells were constructed and tested where it was found that the ligand exchanged solar cell (CdSe-DMPS) had a much larger photo-response than CdSe-OLA.
College
College of Science & Engineering
Department
Chemistry
First Advisor/Mentor
Jennifer Zemke, Ph.D.
Start Date
4-19-2023 10:00 AM
End Date
4-19-2023 11:00 AM
Presentation Type
Poster Session
Format of Presentation or Performance
In-Person
Session
1b=10am-11am
Poster Number
12
Included in
Synthesis and Characterization of CdSe nanoparticles for Use in Solar Cells
Over the last several years, interest in thin-film, nanoparticle-based solar cells have increased due to their potential to be low cost, tunable, and highly efficient when compared to other current solar cell technologies. In this research, cadmium selenide nanoparticles capped by oleic acid (CdSe-OLA) were synthesized. After those nanoparticles were synthesized, the bulky oleic acid ligand was exchanged with much smaller, more tunable ligands such as vanillic acid, malic acid, and Sodium 2,3-Dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate (DMPS). This allows for easier energy transfer when applied to a solar cell. The successful synthesis of these nanoparticles was confirmed using FTIR, UV-vis, and NMR spectroscopy. Using these nanoparticles, thin-film solar cells were constructed and tested where it was found that the ligand exchanged solar cell (CdSe-DMPS) had a much larger photo-response than CdSe-OLA.
