Gel probe photocurrent measurement device and methods of use thereof
View Patent ↗Apparatus and methods of use thereof for the measurement of photocurrents are provided. More specifically, methods for measuring the external quantum efficiency of a sample are provided wherein the method comprises contacting a sample with an electrolyte gel; contacting the electrolyte gel with a probe; directing light on the sample through the probe; measuring the resultant photocurrent; and determining the external quantum efficiency based on the light input power and the measured photocurrent.
1. A method for measuring an external quantum efficiency of a sample, said method comprising
a) contacting said sample with an electrolyte gel;
b) contacting said electrolyte gel with a fiber optics probe, wherein said fiber optics probe comprises a metal terminus, and wherein said fiber optic probe has a spacer at the metal terminus which fixes a distance from said fiber optics probe to said sample;
c) directing light on said sample through said probe;
d) measuring a photocurrent caused by step c); and
e) determining the external quantum efficiency based on a power of the light in step c) and the photocurrent measured in step d).
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said spacer is an electrical insulator.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said spacer comprises plastic or polytetrafluoroethylene.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said metal terminus comprises copper.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said electrolyte gel is non-aqueous.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said electrolyte gel comprises at least one of CuSO 4 , Cu, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, sulfates, acetates, nitrates, and chlorites.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said electrolyte gel comprises a polar solvent and a polymer.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(vinylidene fluoride), poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene), poly(acrylonitrile), poly(ethylene oxide), polyimide, and poly(methyl metacrylate).
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein said polar solvent is selected from the group consisting of N-methylpyrrolidone, propylene carbonate, methoxypropionitrile, and gamma-butyrolactone.
10. The method of claim 5 , wherein said non-aqueous electrolyte gel comprises CuSO 4 , poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene), and N-methylpyrrolidone.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said light is a chopped monochromatic light beam.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said photocurrent is amplified.