Question: How would electrospray deposition help with finding new ways to make energy?

Rob Temperton answered on 18 Jun 2015:

Excellent question! Many scientists spend their time looking at new methods of energy production. For example new types of solar cell such as dye sensitised solar cells and organic photovoltaic devices. Both of these examples work because of the interactions between the special molecules and the surface you put them on.

The analytical techniques we use to analyse these interactions (such as electrons moving between the molecule and the surface) require ultra high vacuum. The conventional way of depositing molecules into a surface in vacuum is essentially to heat them up and evaporate them onto a surface (they generally “sublime” which means going straight from solid to gas phase).

Unfortunately, the molecules used in the solar cell devices I mentioned before are often too big and fragile to sublime – the heat causes them to break apart. This is where electrospray comes in. We can use it to deposit these fragile molecules onto surfaces without damaging them for analysis. The data we collect can then be used by chemists to design even better molecules for the job they are intended.

Rob