Zachary Barringer 1-08-13 10B

Bakulin, Artem A., Stoichko D. Dimitrov, Akshay Rao, Philip C. Y. Chow, Christian B. Nielsen, Bob C. Schroeder, Iain McCulloch, Huib J. Bakker, James R. Durrant, and Richard H. Friend. "Charge-Transfer State Dynamics Following Hole and Electron Transfer in Organic Photovoltaic Devices." Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters(2012): 209-15. Journal of Chemical Education. Web. 7 Jan. 2013
In an increasingly environmentally aware world, many are in a frantic search for renewable energy sources, one of the best known of which is solar power. However, the do not yet provide a suitable replacement to modern energy sources due to their lack of efficiency. However, there are several configurations for organic solar panels as they are made from layers of polymer that function to convert the photons in light in electrical energy, a manifestation of moving electrons. The electron moves from one polymer known as the electron donor to another known as the electron acceptor. This creates the electrical current in a process known as electron transfer. However if this is reversed and photons are applied to the electron acceptor then a process commonly known as hole transfer occurs if which electron interaction occurs in the uppermost occupied orbitals. Both of the processes result in a charge transfer, or change in the charges of the polymers involved. This study focuses on the dynamics of electron and hole transfer; how the electrons move and the energy involved in the same. This paper concludes that there is little difference in the energy transfer of electron and hole transfer and most of the energy dissociation occurs due to the energy of the electrons; a smaller energy results in a greater likelihood of the bonding with the receiver require for useful energy. This results in a seeming dependence of efficiency on the material system; whether electron transfer or hole transfer occurs. An increase in the energy of the charge transfer may also result in a greater dissociation of the electrons and system. This numerical data fits the qualitative model of charge transfers and dissociation of electrons during thermalization, or the breaking off of electrons from the nucleus. Evidence for these conclusions is found in the variation of the electron output under different wavelengths of light, the differences of which serve to cause either electron or hole transfer. The data shown shows a decrease in energy output for an increase in the delay between the light applications, indicating that with a decreased photon-polymer interaction there is a drop in the dissociation that causes the energy output from a photovoltaic cell known as electricity. This difference, however, follows the same pattern for both hole transfer and electron transfer, indicating there is little or no difference in the dynamics of the light save for a possible difference in the base amount of dissociation. The data as interpreted here parallels the conclusions drawn from the

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article and thus lending a small measure of validity to both sets of conclusion about the data. However, since the conclusions are based on data, they are nothing if the data is less than faultless. The organic photovoltaic panels test were each made of a different polymer, al treated and prepared in an identical fashion. The measuring tools were also prepared in a singular manner and were preserved so as not to degrade during the testing. These measures along with stable testing procedures would ensure little or no error in the course of the experiment. This primary research article provides very applicable results and is yet another step forward in the journey towards renewable power. These results show that developing solar panel that reduce or eliminate hole transfer would not be the best application of resources. The results indicate the a increase in light intensity and frequency results in a greater dissociation of electrons and is therefore a potential focal point for future research. Finally, this study reveals a property of electron transfer; any transfer of electron follows a similar pattern on a slightly different scale, but follows a single set of tendencies and patterns. This experiment will not change our way of viewing light and solar panels, it is but another small step towards comprehensive knowledge of energy and subatomic molecules.