Jul 1 2010
Researchers of Cornell University have discovered a process that involves making use of ink dye and blue jean molecules for developing an organic structure that can lead to versatile, flexible and economical solar cells. Generally, heavy silicon panels, while being effective, also tend to be unwieldy and expensive as well.
COF, also known as covalent organic framework, is the strategy used for assembling organic dye molecules into a coherent structure. Organic materials, over time, have been found to have the potential of creating low-cost, flexible and thin photovoltaic devices. But, organizing the component molecules was the factor that was proving elusive. However, this strategy takes care of the elusive factor by using an acid catalyst along with protected catechols, otherwise known as relatively stable molecules.
Though the system comprises of wrong structure formation alongside the correct ones, the correct structures are so stable that they end up dominating the system. For confirming material molecular structure and determining the porosity along with measuring the surface area, Cornell University researchers made use of x-ray diffraction.