The document outlines activities conducted by students to investigate dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). It includes 4 activities: 1) Using plant disks to study the effects of light and CO2 on photosynthesis. 2) Using paper chromatography to separate and identify leaf pigments. 3) Measuring the electrical properties of silicon solar cells. 4) Creating their own DSSC using glass slides, acetic acid, and a plant dye. The final project was designing a solar electric bicycle. The students aimed to power the bicycle using a wind generator and solar panel to reduce fuel costs and emissions.

1. AL-BAIRAQ
I AM DISCOVERING MATERIALS
DSSC
RESEARCHERS
ABDULAZIZ ALEMADI ABDULLAH KHALED
ABDULRAHMAN ALSHAMMR FAHADALMOFTAH

2. OUTLINE
Introduction
Activity 1: Investigating the photosynthesis of plant
Disks
Activity 2: Separating leaf pigments using paper
chromatography.
Activity 3: Measuring a solar cell’s performance.
Activity 4: Making a Dye-sensitized solar cell.
 Design Project (Last Activity)
Product Idea

3. INTRODUCTION
What are Dye-sensitized solar cells (
DSSCs)?

4. ACTIVITY 1: INVESTIGATING THE PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF PLANT
DISKS.• Objective :
investigate the factors that affects the of rate
photosynthesis
Procedure
• Obtain 200mL 1% solution of sodium bicarbonate in two
plastic cups
• Cut 20 leave disks with a hole puncher
• Enable the plant disks to fully absorb the bicarbonate
solution by using syringe.
• Place 10 disks in each plastic cup
• Put the plastic cups with the disks directly under a white
light source, and a light source with red filter.
• Start the stop watch & record the No. of disks that float
to the top of each cup every 5 minutes.
*

5. RESULTS
Conclusion:
There are many factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis,
such as: light source, the amount of CO2.
plot the results of your trials: Graphing
the total number of disks float after each 2min.
No. of discs
(Red filter)
No. of disks
((White Light
Time (min)
055
01010
01520
ACTIVITY 1:INVESTIGATING THE
PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF PLANT DISKS.

6. ACTIVITY 2: SEPARATING LEAF PIGMENTS USING PAPER
CHROMATOGRAPHY.
Objective: Isolate and identify the
pigments that are involved in the
photosynthetic process
1) Cut a strip of chromatography paper to a size of
19.0 cm by 1.8 . Using a pencil , draw a base line
3cm from the bottom oof the short side of the
strip of paper
2)Place a green plant leaf over the pencil line on
the piece of paper
3)Add approximately 2 cm of solvent to the
bottom of a test tube and trace the pattern of the
pigments

7. CONCLUSION AND RESULT
 We made chromatography for plants.

8. ACTIVITY 3:MEASURING A SOLAR CELL’S
PERFORMANCE.
Objective: Explore the electrical properties of the
silicon solar cells that are readily available in the
market
•
•
•

9. CONCLUSION AND RESULTS
 petroleum ether and ace-solvent is nonpolar
white chlorophyll b , which had more polar bonds
than chlorophyll a , was more attracted to the
paper and travelled at the slowest rate of the
other pigment
Brightness
rank
Resistance
( Ω )
Current
( I )
Voltage (
V )
Bulb
Code
34.2 Ω0.31.25123
29 Ω0.252.25222
113 Ω0.11.3131

10. ACTIVITY 4: MAKING A DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR
CELL.
• Objective: Create our own photovoltaic cell
• Obtain 2 glass slide (be sure to handle the slide by the
edges .
• Set the dial knob to resistance . Touch the probes to
opposite corners on the same face of a glass slide .
• Test both faces of both slides and make a mark with a
permanent marker on the edge of the conductive face of
the slide.
• Put one glass slide on the tip of the spin-coating motor
using a piece of double-sided tape.
• A slurry composed of acetic acid (vinegar).

11. CONCLUSION AND RESULTS
 After Making the dye-sensitized solar cell,
we could obtain small voltage, however, the
cell performance can be maximized by using
different kinds of plant dyes.

12. FINAL PROJECT:SOLAR ELECTRIC BICYCLE .
• Introduction and Rationale : this project was a way
of using the ongoing power I am producing both
from my 100w wind generator and 100w solar
panel.
• Aim of the work (objectives) : Aimed at satisfaction
with special needs and and non jealousy of normal
people and also the joy that will shape on their
faces and not paying the money for fuel and garage
payment.

13. SOLAR ELECTRIC BICYCLE .
RESULTS:
• Aimed at satisfaction with special needs and
and non jealousy of normal people and also
the joy that will shape on their faces and not
paying the money for fuel and garage
payment.
•

14. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Many thanks to my teachers, school and AL-Bairaq team
from Center for Advanced Materials (CAM), Qatar University
for supporting us during our journey with a AL-Bairaq.
Also, I would like to thank the sponsors UNESCO, Qatar
National Commission, Ras Gas, Maersk and Shell.