Our services

Impurity Identification

Elucidation of the molecular structures of impurities directly in solar cells omitting an extraction step.

Polymer Analysis

Determination of the molecular mass distribution and polydispersity index. Identification of the terminal groups. Copolymer analysis.

Degradation Study

Elucidation of chemical degradation mechanisms using mass spectrometry-based surface analysis techniques.

Work Flow

If it is needed, we sign a non-disclosure agreement.

To demonstrate what information mass spectrometry can extract from your solar cells, we perform a free of charge MS analysis of one of your solar cells. 

If you find MS a useful analytical tool for your type of solar cell, we will design MS experiments that clarify molecular processes occurring in your solar cells you are interested in (e.g. degradation of solar cell components, in-situ polymerization of conductive polymers, dye-electrolyte interaction). We send a study protocol and quotation for your consideration. As soon as the protocol and quotation are approved, we conduct the MS analysis of your samples and send back the obtained results and invoice.

The payment has to be performed in 30 days upon emission of the invoice.

Would you like to cut costs of multi-sample analysis? Then our monthly subscription plan is for you. Your samples will be prioritized for the analysis and a price per sample will be reduced.

Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells: Identification of the Dye-electrolyte Interaction

The photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cells consists of a dye-sensitized metal oxide film that is deposited on a conductive substrate. Such a configuration of the photoanode makes it a perfect sample for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI MS). In this project, we applied LDI MS for the study of molecular interactions between a dye and electrolyte on the surface of a titanium dioxide photoanode. We found that a dye containing polyoxyethylene groups forms complexes with alkali metal cations from the electrolyte.

Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) in Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Comparison of In Situ Photoelectrochemical Polymerization in Aqueous Micellar and Organic Media

In this contribution, we applied matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) for analysis of insoluble conducting polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), directly on solid dye-sensitized solar cells. For the deposition of PEDOT, in-situ photoelectrochemical polymerization was employed. We found that PEDOT generated in aqueous micellar medium possesses shorter polymeric chains than PEDOT deposited from organic medium. Furthermore, micellar electrolyte promotes transformation of one of the thiophene terminal unit into thiophenone.
Simplicity of sample preparation (only application of the organic matrix onto the solar cell is needed) and fast analysis proved that MALDI MS is an essential tool for express examination of solid dye-sensitized solar cells.

how it works

General principles of MALDI-TOF-MS

In this post, I would like to describe general principles of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), which is a great tool for exploring the chemical world of organic solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells as well as solar fuel cells. In MALDI-TOF-MS, as the name implies, the ionization is induced by a laser (most […]

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