Solar Cells Experiment - Student

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* 1. Please identify the school at which you performed the dye-sensitized Solar Cell experiment:

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* 2. In what grade are you currently enrolled?

8th grade or younger

9th

10th

11th

12th

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* 3. After performing this hands-on activity, please rate how well you understand the following concepts:

	Not at all	A little	Mostly	Very
Light (photons) carries energy and its energy is related to its color.	Light (photons) carries energy and its energy is related to its color. Not at all	Light (photons) carries energy and its energy is related to its color. A little	Light (photons) carries energy and its energy is related to its color. Mostly	Light (photons) carries energy and its energy is related to its color. Very
Electricity is the flow of electrons.	Electricity is the flow of electrons. Not at all	Electricity is the flow of electrons. A little	Electricity is the flow of electrons. Mostly	Electricity is the flow of electrons. Very
Electrons flow from a component where they are at a higher energy level to a component where they are at a lower energy level, like water flowing down a waterfall.	Electrons flow from a component where they are at a higher energy level to a component where they are at a lower energy level, like water flowing down a waterfall. Not at all	Electrons flow from a component where they are at a higher energy level to a component where they are at a lower energy level, like water flowing down a waterfall. A little	Electrons flow from a component where they are at a higher energy level to a component where they are at a lower energy level, like water flowing down a waterfall. Mostly	Electrons flow from a component where they are at a higher energy level to a component where they are at a lower energy level, like water flowing down a waterfall. Very

Please offer your explanation to the following questions:

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* 4. Using nanoporous TiO2 paste to build your solar cells provides more surface area for electrons to flow from the fruit juice to your electrode, making a more efficient solar cell. Explain why an electrode coated with a thin layer of nanoporous TiO2 paste offers more surface area for contact than a solid layer of TiO2.

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* 5. Is your solar cell generating electricity before you connect it to the mulitmeter? Why or why not?

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* 6. Most conductors are metallic, but the conductive TiO2 is transparent and therefore used as the electrode for your solar cells. Explain why transparency is important for your solar cell electrode.

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* 7. What is the voltage your solar cell generated (AAA and AA batteries both generate about 1.2 volts)? Can you make it generate a higher voltage? How about generating more current? If yes, explain.

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* 8. Identify any concepts that you might have better understood after performing this activity:

None

Molecules

Solar cells

Oxidation-reduction

Photosynthesis

Other (please specify)

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* 9. On a scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means "not at all" and 4 means "very much", rate the following:

	1	2	3	4
Did you find the science you learned in this activity interesting?	Did you find the science you learned in this activity interesting? 1	Did you find the science you learned in this activity interesting? 2	Did you find the science you learned in this activity interesting? 3	Did you find the science you learned in this activity interesting? 4
Do you want to learn more about solar cells or how nanostructures can improve the performance of devices such as solar cells?	Do you want to learn more about solar cells or how nanostructures can improve the performance of devices such as solar cells? 1	Do you want to learn more about solar cells or how nanostructures can improve the performance of devices such as solar cells? 2	Do you want to learn more about solar cells or how nanostructures can improve the performance of devices such as solar cells? 3	Do you want to learn more about solar cells or how nanostructures can improve the performance of devices such as solar cells? 4
How well can you explain how a solar cell could generate electricity, to someone who doesn’t know (e.g. perhaps to a younger sibling)?	How well can you explain how a solar cell could generate electricity, to someone who doesn’t know (e.g. perhaps to a younger sibling)? 1	How well can you explain how a solar cell could generate electricity, to someone who doesn’t know (e.g. perhaps to a younger sibling)? 2	How well can you explain how a solar cell could generate electricity, to someone who doesn’t know (e.g. perhaps to a younger sibling)? 3	How well can you explain how a solar cell could generate electricity, to someone who doesn’t know (e.g. perhaps to a younger sibling)? 4