🧟Aug 1, 2019
toxicodendron radicans

Dye-sensitised solar cells are a type of photovoltaic device which uses a colourful dye to absorb light and cause an electric current, instead of the silicon semiconductors which most regular solar cells use.

It works because chemically, colour is caused by light being absorbed by molecules, which makes their electrons jump about. Dyes used to make solar cells absorb light strongly, and completely give up those electrons, which causes an electric current to flow.

So it turns out, because red grapes are full of molecules which are very good at absorbing light, you can make a working dye-sensitised solar cell using port wine instead of one of the fancy dyes which are normally used.

And honestly, I just thought that was really cool and worth sharing! ☀️

Jul 31, 2019 at 3:46pmWeb
Show threadtoxicodendron radicansJul 31, 2019
This isn't quite the same as what I work on, but it's very closely related. 
Show threadAnneJul 31, 2019
@InvaderXan so your work *doesn't* provide you with a port wine budget?
Show threadtoxicodendron radicansJul 31, 2019
@anne If my research proposal gets accepted, I can have my own port wine budget. 😉
Show threadhaf, blurst of her nameJul 31, 2019
@InvaderXan ha. This is adjacent to what I do (improving solar substrates and trying to make better conductive polymers...). Wish they (and the perovskites) had better lifetimes - - would be nice to get away from CdTe and still be lightweight and efficient.
Show threadGena TriusJul 31, 2019
@InvaderXan Do you know where one might look to make a cell like this as a project?
Show threadtoxicodendron radicansJul 31, 2019
@GenaTrius I don’t offhand, but I can try and find something. I’m a little busy this evening though. Maybe I’ll take a look while I’m at work tomorrow. 🙂
Show threadhaf, blurst of her nameJul 31, 2019
@GenaTrius this is something that is not infrequently done in undergrad classes! I know that the Journal of Chem Ed has instructions in an article; if you have access, it's not a bad bet! @InvaderXan
Show threadhaf, blurst of her nameJul 31, 2019
@GenaTrius there's also an Instructable for building one: https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-Use-A-Dye-Sensitized-Solar-Cell-DS/ @InvaderXan
Show threadtoxicodendron radicansJul 31, 2019
@hafnia @GenaTrius Oh cool, thanks for this!
Show threadhaf, blurst of her nameJul 31, 2019
@InvaderXan sometimes I'm useful!  tbh the TCO glass is probably the most difficult piece to find, and even it's not too bad - - this can be done safely at home. @GenaTrius
Show threadSierraJul 31, 2019
@InvaderXan are there any papers out there on the efficiency of silicon vs dyes in solar panels? or perhaps there's a way to use them both together 🤔

this sounds interesting
Show threadtoxicodendron radicansAug 2, 2019

@cdmnky
I'm sure there must be some papers out there. I need to look up a few actually.

But I think these things are probably best if they're used as complementary technologies. They have different pros and cons.

Show threadAnkə 🌱Jul 31, 2019
@InvaderXan ...do you happen to know if that is somehow related to what happens in the human eye? er... Rhodopsin photobleaching?
...probably not, they wouldn't last long.
Show threadtoxicodendron radicansAug 2, 2019

@Anke It's related. Both involve molecules absorbing photons and causing some kind of charge transfer as a result.

Interestingly, there's a type of archaea which uses a form of rhodopsin to capture solar energy. It doesn't fix carbon or produce oxygen, but instead causes a flow of ions. I think the mechanism is quite similar to what happens in your eyes!

Show threadstampirlAug 1, 2019
@InvaderXan what's the efficiency compared to silicon ones
Show threadtoxicodendron radicansAug 2, 2019

@GeekDaddy Still quite low, unfortunately, but it's likely these things will find different applications.

Silicon-based solar cells, if I'm remembering right, have a maximum energy converstion efficiency of 40-50%. Those are the thin film type, which are very impressive.

The best dye-sensitised solar cells currently have a maximum efficiency of 11-12%, so they have some catching up to do.

Show threadstampirlAug 2, 2019
@InvaderXan so they're usable for low-power solutions and easier to make than silicon ones. Are my conclusions right?
Show threaddanny boyAug 1, 2019
@InvaderXan these are so cool! in an undergrad chem lab I made one using blueberry juice
Show threadtoxicodendron radicansAug 2, 2019
@acceleraptor Oh blueberry! Yes, I can see how that would work well! ☀️