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Time-Resolved Electrostatic Force Microscopy of Polymer Solar Cells. nm. DMR-0449422. David Ginger, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Time-resolved electrostatic force microscopy allows direct mapping of variations
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Time-Resolved Electrostatic Force Microscopy of Polymer Solar Cells nm DMR-0449422 David Ginger, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA • Time-resolved electrostatic force microscopy allows direct mapping of variations • in local charging rates when donor/acceptor polymer blends are illuminated • These maps help us understand how these photovoltaic blends operate—identifying • regions of loss, and pointing to ways to improve efficiency Height Charging Rate Faster Slower arb. units D. C. Coffey and D. S. Ginger, Nature Materials, 2006, doi:10.1038/nmat1712
NSF Broader Impacts DMR-0449422 David Ginger, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA Technological and Societal: • Reducing fossil fuel use and dependence on foreign oil is one of the most • important challenges facing society today • An enhanced microscopic understanding of polymer solar cell performance • bottlenecks in nanostructured photovoltaic blends will help us design better • nanostructured solar cells Educational: • “Student Seminars in Nanoscience” Course at UW—undergraduate and • graduate students from chemistry, physics, materials science, bioengineering, and • communication presented interdisciplinary topics—improving cross-disciplinary • understanding of nanoscience topics among students, and student abilities to • communicate about science • Graduate Student Andrea Munro won a cash prize for her development of • nanoscience outreach materials for high school students concerning quantum dots • Developed new computer-based modules for teaching undergraduate quantum • chemistry