Last updated on July 13th, 2020 at 09:37 pm
Scientists were able to determine the spatial arrangement of bipyridine molecules (gray) on a surface of nickel and oxygen atoms (yellow/red). Rotation changes the trans-configuration (front right) to a cis configuration (front left).Credit: Image: University of Basel, Department of Physics
Scientists at the University of Basel have found a way to change the spatial arrangement of bipyridine molecules on a surface. These potential components of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) form complexes with metals and thereby alter their chemical conformation. The results of this interdisciplinary collaboration between chemists and physicists from Basel were recently published in the scientific journal ACS Omega.
The way in which the dye absorbs sunlight is anchored to the semiconductor that plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of these solar cells. However, the anchoring of the dyes on nickel oxide surfaces – which are particularly suitable for tandem dye-sensitized cells (DSSC) – is not yet sufficiently understood.
How does a Dye-Sensitized Cell works?
Video Courtesy – “CSI goessolar“
Binding on surfaces
Over the course of interdisciplinary collaboration, scientists from the Swiss Nanoscience Institute and the Departments of Physics and Chemistry at the University of Basel investigated how single bipyridine molecules bind to nickel oxide and gold surfaces.
Bipyridine crystals served as an anchor molecule for dye-sensitized cells on a semiconductor surface. This anchor binds the metal complexes, which in turn can then be used to bind the various dyes.
With the aid of scanning probe microscopes, the investigation determined that initially, the bipyridine molecules bind flat to the surface in their trans-configuration. The addition of iron atoms and an increase in temperature cause a rotation around a carbon atom in the bipyridine molecule and thus leads to the formation of the cis configuration.
“The chemical composition of the cis and trans configuration is the same, but their spatial arrangement is very different. “The change in configuration can be clearly distinguished on the basis of scanning probe microscope measurements,” confirms experimental physicist Professor Ernst Meyer.
The configuration of the bipyridine molecule is changed by binding an iron atom (brown). The chemical composition of the molecules is the same, but their spatial arrangement and chemical properties are very different.
(Image: University of Basel, Department of Physics)
Metal complexes in a modified configuration
This change in spatial arrangement is the result of the formation of a metal complex, as confirmed by the scientists through their examination of the bipyridine on a gold surface.
During the preparation of the dye-sensitized solar cells, these reactions take place in a solution. However, the examination of individual molecules and their behavior is only possible with the use of scanning probe microscopes in a vacuum.
“This study allowed us to observe for the first time how molecules that are firmly bound to a surface change their configuration,” summarizes Meyer. “This enables us to better understand how anchor molecules behave on nickel oxide surfaces.”
How can you make your own DSSC?
Video Courtesy – “Neal Abrams“
Source – Materials provided by University of Basel.
Reference – 10.1021/acsomega.8b01792
Besides this, you can view our video and blog collections in the Video Section & Blog Section of the website.
Akshat Mishra is currently pursuing his doctoral degree in Physics from Lund University in Sweden. He feels the need to explore the depths of the not-so-dark universe while at the same time watch the quanta in action. Electronic Music is what puts him in the thinking zone.
-
Akshat Mishrahttps://www.scilynk.in/author/akshat/
-
Akshat Mishrahttps://www.scilynk.in/author/akshat/
-
Akshat Mishrahttps://www.scilynk.in/author/akshat/
-
Akshat Mishrahttps://www.scilynk.in/author/akshat/
