ChE 415 Spring 2006
This is the homepage for the SolarSpin group; Senior chemical engineering students at Oregon State University: Karen Bowles, Lynn Bowles, Charlie Norris, and Mike Hufford.
SolarSpin
is the title for our senior lab experiment. We will be investigating the
possibility of spincoating nano-structured transparent films from solution and
then baking away the remaining solvent. Hopefully creating an easy and
effective recipe for making solar cells. This would have commercial and
academic ramifications. Students could make their own solar cells when
studying the subject thereby gaining hands on knowledge; companies could reduce
production cost of solar cells.
The transparent film is a semi-conductor: Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). The substrate being coated is non-conducting glass. If photo-effective cells are realized, it will be apparent from current-voltage tests to be carried out. We will post the results as we go.
Project Goals
- Identify method to construct a simple solar cell. (Materials and production standpoint)
- Characterize surfaces obtained and any effect of incident light on cell resistivity.
Although not a direct goal of the experiment; a bonus will be characterizing the new spin coater for the OSU Chemical Engineering Department. We will be writing a spin coater operations manual (create link) for this new spin coater.
This project was inspired by a Science Magazine article (2005). This and other sources are posted in our project references webpage.
Material Safety Data Sheets, as well as other information, are available on Background Information Page.