I need to measure the J-V curve for solar cell using Princeton Versastat 4 potentiostat. How can I connect the terminals of the potentiostat?
this paper will outline the DC method of characterizing solar cells:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038092X11003021
also, this web page is very helpful:
http://pveducation.org/pvcdrom
Dear Dr. Amr,
The electrolyte solar cells have three electrodes, the working electrode, the counter electrode and the reference electrode. The reference electrode is added to measure the electrode I-V characteristics. You can measure the working electrode alone and the counter electrode alone with reference to the reference electrodes.In electochemical cells one is interested in the properties of electrodes and cells. If you want to measure only the cell I-V characteristics you need only to access the cell between the working and the reference electrodes exactly like the conventional solar cells.
If you are interested to measure the electrodes and cell performance at the same time you use a potentiostat where you apply constant voltage between the reference electrode and the counter electrode, sensing the current flowing from the reference electrode to the counter electrode and pumping an equal current in the working electrode by applying an adjustable potential on the working electrode. So, the voltage across every electrode is known and the current passing through them.
Accordingly, one gets the cell voltage, the working electrode voltage, and the counter electrode voltage with respect to the reference electrode.This is in addition to the the current in the electrodes.
In conclusion , using the potentiostat you can measure the cell and electrodes at the same time if you intend.
wish you success.
For a I-V curve with any solar cell, you can move to a 2 electrode setup. connect ref1 to counter. Then perform EIS to get the series resistance to correct for the IR drop.
thanks all for you precocious answers, but I need to measure the solar cell in the two electrode configuration.
So, for sensitized solar cell is it a must to connect the potentiostate working electrode connected to the cell working electrode or to the counter electrode?.
There is no all, there is only two persons who answered your question. I directed my comment to you with your name!
For the right connections for the different mode of operations, please refer to the valuable paper in the link: http://www.ecochemie.nl/download/Applicationnotes/Autolab_Application_Note_EC08.pdf
wish you success
Solar cells use a two electrode setup, please see the following two papers for the answer you look:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013468614020131#
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0263224114001067
However, you have to make sure the IR drop isn't too large. Best to measure this with impedance spectroscopy.
Good Luck!
Dr. Simon E. Rock
Thanks for your helpful answer. Can you take a look into this picture (from Versastat 4 manul) and tell me that if I can use the same connections setup for my experiment. I think the authors in the papers you suggested use a different connection setup.
Yes, when using a 2 electrode setup, the RE1 is connected to the CE. However, when going to a two electrode setup it is more commonly called anode and cathode. A figure in one of the aforementioned papers shows this setup so that the polarization is correct. Lastly, scan the voltage at an appropriate rate while measure the response current.
I had faced similar problems while using a potentiostat for characterizing my liquid junction solar cell. Here is what u need to do.
Potentiostat gives u 3 connections while the device has 2 electrodes. So short the connections for reference and counter electrode and connect this shorted configuration to one end of your device. Connect the working electrode connection to the other end and then u can measure. U can short it by simply connecting the reference and counter leads to your FTO.
I-V is simple current in Ampere or sub scale of Ampere whereas, J is current density current divided by surface area or in CV case by gravimetric mas.
- Badges
- Science topic