2008-08-04
A slide show of work done by Matthew Lloyd, graduate student in the Malliaras group, is featured on the Discovery Channel Website under "Solar Cell Solutions." Lloyd was searching for the right combination of synthetic chemicals that could conduct electricity. The search for so-called organic semiconductors (think, carbon-based) could lead to cheaper, lighter electronics -- among them, flexible solar cells that convert sunlight into energy.
With the help of John Anthony, a professor of chemistry at the University of Kentucky, Lloyd applied liquids containing organic semiconducting materials to surfaces under different conditions. Next, he waited for the solutions to solidify into a thin film. Lastly, he examined those films under a microscope.
Click here to see the slideshow of his work.