Solar Cells and Decomposition

Using solar cells, we tested for current with curcuminoids and the Fe 3+ curcumin complex. This endeavor was inspired by the search for applications of the curcumin complex. We found that there was a significant reduction in potential difference when the curcumin and iron complex was used, which is proof that the Fe 3+ curcumin complex is forming. The change in voltage can be attributed to a loss in conjugation.

The solar cell project has been testing raspberry solar cells due to favorable conjugation. While raspberries are effective, they are not efficient as they are expensive. Curcumin may yield similar voltages for a fraction of the cost.

We considered that our curcumin samples may be degrading, and occasionally caught scents of vanilla. The following skeletal structure is of vanillin, a vanilla plant derivative that resembles a potential "metabolite."

The following is another candidate:                        

                                                                                                       

Curcumin

                 




Vanillin and the cinnamaldehyde derivative might not be what is actually being produced by natural degradation or leaving our samples is ambient temperature, but we have suspicions that they may be. Further experiments may involve identification of the nature of degradation of curcumin.

"Degradation of curcumin: From mechanism to biological implications" by Schneider, et al, explores this topic. It can be found at this link.

We were having some issues with the IR spec machine. At first in troubleshooting, we tried to re-calibrate the machine to the environment, but this proved ineffective in affording a sound IR graph. We then reset all of the hardware which also proved inconclusive. Using new salt crystals rectified the error. We produced a good overlay of three spectra.

7/3/18
-Alexander Czechowicz