Differences Between Galvanic Cells And Photovoltaic Cells

This experiment covered both galvanic cells and photovoltaic cells. Galvanic cells consist of oxidation and reduction half reactions that are separated to find a current. Meanwhile photovoltaic cell relied on light to power a current through an anode and a cathode. In this experiment we constructed several different galvanic cells as well as a photovoltaic cell in order to test their performance under varying conditions. We were able to calculate voltages for several different Galvanic cells that were near there expected value. In addition, the construction of a photovoltaic cell showed that blackberry based absorption works better in sunlight then under a heat lamp. We thus were able to confirm the predictability of voltages of Galvanic cell …show more content…
When these two cells are created, they are then joined together with a connecting water. Due to the difference in potential between the oxidation reaction, which releases electrons, and the reduction reaction, which requires electrons, electron’s flow thru the conductor to allow the reactions to occur. The charge is balanced with a salt bridge, where ions dissolve into the solutions as the electron flows to balance the charge. The cell potential is thus the difference in the potentials of the two half …show more content…
Photons contain energy, which can excite electrons. In our solar cell, these photons hit the blackberry juice which becomes excited and shoots out electrons into the conduction band of Titanium dioxide, which is the other part of the anode. The electrons then flow through an electrical system to cathode, consisting of graphite and triiodide/iodide solution. The graphite promotes conduction of the electrons to reduce I3- into I-. Finally, the blackberry juice oxidizes the I- into I3-, bringing the blackberry juice back to charge neutral, so that it is ready to be excited by the light again. All of this happens in a continuous