OVERVIEW

This laboratory would like to bridge the gap between fundamental and practical knowledge providing the way to build and characterize simple photovoltaic cell both commercially available and prepared by students. PV cell architecture, materials, and strategy to achieve an efficient Organic Photo Voltaics-OPV are critically discussed. Active semiconductors, processability, blending properties, absorption spectrum, electrodes with different work functions as well as methods of preparation of thin films for a multilayered OPV will be characterized.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

In this project based laboratory course students will be guided through the basic experimental procedures for the fabrication and characterization of an organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. Each step of the OPV cell fabrication will be done by the students independently and actively, but under continuous guidance and supervision of a tutor. Students will be then guided through the most appropriate experimental techniques and procedures. Once the device fabricated and characterized, student will be engaged in a critical analysis of the results exploiting basic concepts learnt in other courses. To achieve this goal, students will avail themselves of a laboratory entirely dedicated to this activity, aiming to a “learn by making” instruction level.

PREREQUISITES

Basic skills in solution preparation and chemistry of materials. Basic know-how on the electronic structure of semiconductors. Basic know-how of optical and electrical properties of materials.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

DAVIDE COMORETTO (President)

MATTEO BARELLI

PAOLA LOVA

FRANCESCO BUATIER DE MONGEOT (President Substitute)

MARIA CATERINA GIORDANO (Substitute)

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam held by two professors, one of them being D. Comoretto, F. Buatier de Mongeot, Maria Caterina Giordano.

The duration of the exam is no shorter than 30 minutes.

The exam consists in the discussion of data recorded and analyzed during the lab activity.

The student must demonstrate comprehension of the main features related to the physical/chemical/technological fundamentals of the device, characterization and materials as well as device realization by using the suitable technical vocabulary (up to 15/30).

The clarity of presentation (up to 5/30) and ability to answer questions (up 10/30) will be also evaluated.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Goal of the exam is to verify the achievement of the class aims.

If aims are not achieved, the student is invited to make a deeper study and to ask the teacher for additional explanations before repeating the exam.

In order to guarantee the correspondence between aims and exam topics, the detailed program is uploaded to AulaWeb and described at the beginning of the course.

Exam schedule