Group 5:

Behind the Scenes: Cheaper Plastic Solar Cells In the Works By Diane Hinkens, South Dakota State University posted: 12 December 2008 09:29 am ET

http://www.livescience.com/technology/081212-bts-organic-photovoltaics.html

Some questions to think about:

What are the top 3 ways to obtaining electrical power in Singapore?

What do you think are some impacts the cheaper plastic solar cells might have on obtaining electrical power in sunny Singapore?

Do you think that Singapore should adopt the use of solar power? Give reasons to support your answer.

Names  of Group Members:

1.Nasrull     

2.Ahmad Danial

3.Lionel

4.Alvis

Summary of Assigned Article

(Pick out the key points of the article, Less than 200 words)

We are trying to develop a more efficient and less costly cell.It is called the solar cell.Vast majority of today’s solar cells are expensive because they are made from silicon-based, or inorganic, semiconductors.the solar cell we are creating will be less costly as it will be made from organic, or carbon-based, semiconductors made from polymers.With this solar cell,we can absorb more of the sun's energy for electricity production.We will incorporate molecules known to absorb different wavelengths of light into the polymer chains.These polymers may be capable of self-assembling in just a few seconds to form very tiny, ordered arrays of materials.These solar cells may be inexpensive to produce because the organic polymers can be created using low-cost techniques like reel-to-reel processing, similar to the method behind newspaper printing, which results in a material that is lightweight and mechanically flexible. Cheaper solar cells might help Singapore use their money on other more important things.S'pore should adopt the use of solar power because we can save our energy for other things.

Further Reading on Related Articles

(Include information from other websites that support and do not support your assigned article. You should provide the link of the websites that you obtain the information from.)

This article is about the polymers used to make these solar cells.Polymers are the name of the game for Ryan Hayward, assistant professor of polymer science and engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Made up of smaller molecular components called monomers, polymers are chain molecules found in a wide variety of substances such as DNA, plastics, bread, diamonds, glass and most recognizably, in plastics. Hayward and his research group are currently studying active polymer interfaces and self-assembly of polymers and hope to apply their discoveries to solar energy and biomedical applications. Hayward, who recently received the 3M Non-tenured Faculty Award, which recognizes new faculty and provides financial support for their research, worked with collaborators on a study featured in a special June issue of Soft Matter, a peer-reviewed scientific journal.                         http://www.livescience.com/culture/090702-sl-hayward.html

THREE Questions for Critiques

(Answers to questions should be found in your wiki article.)

1.What do you think about the solar cells?

2.What are the advantages of using solar cells?

3.What are the disadvantages of using solar cells?

Critique Group

Answers to Questions

1.There would be a rise in temperature due to climate change.

2.There would be a rise between 4 and 7 percent for children.

3.Yes.

Three things good about the Article Review

i.sufficient amount of information

ii.i can understand the article review

iii.-nil-

Two learning points from the Article Review

A)we need to save the earth.

B)we need to do something to prevent climate change.

One possible improvement for the Article Review

 need more information 

Critique Group

Answers to Questions

1.

2.

3.

Three things good about the Article Review

i.sufficient amount of information

ii.has pictures

iii.

Two learning points from the Article Review

A)save the earth

B)reduce water pollution

One possible improvement for the Article Review

need more information