Experimental approach to electrochemistry using inorganic and organic materials

CHED 183

Laura Nakamya Kibuuka, laura.kibuuka001@umb.edu1, Soma Chattopadhyay, soma.chattopadhyay@umb.edu1, and Hannah Sevian, hannah.sevian@umb.edu2. (1) Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, (2) Division of Undergraduate Education National Science Foundation, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125
The goal of my research is to develop an electrochemistry experiment that can be done at the general chemistry level using modern materials and incorporating inquiry pedagogy. A thin film of Ru(bpy)3Cl2 in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is coated on top of a transparent indium tin oxide (anode) layer and topped with liquid gallium-indium eutectic (cathode). Excited Ru(II) complexes emit light when current passes through the film. This system was previously developed into a laboratory investigation that can be carried out by students over many weeks. In this poster, I will share an outline of lesson objectives and my inquiry-based lab experiment in which students in freshman chemistry lab can create a working device in under three hours. I will review the most significant challenges I have been able to overcome in developing this system into a freshman chemistry lab experiment.

 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Chemical Education
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, August 18, 2008 Pennsylvania Convention Center -- Hall C, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 236th ACS National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, August 17-21, 2008