2016 Participants
Joshua Topley
Research was conducted into the manufacture of a boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) type dye for use in solar cell technology. The manufacture of such dyes is difficult however, the reactions produce poor yields making determining successful reaction conditions an important step. The research involved testing different techniques and proportions of chemicals to improve the amount of dye produced and purified. This research on improving production would aid further testing on BODIPY dyes using chemical analysis devices such as UV/Vis spectroscopy. This analyses the light absorbing and emitting qualities of the dye using ultra-violet and visible light, giving an insight into the efficiency and performance of the dye as a light absorbing material for use in solar cells. The dye can also be incorporated into a solar cell system to test its performance in a real world environment.
Funding source: Newcastle University
Supervisor: Dr Fabio Cucinotta