In the Laboratory
Investigating the Photoelectric Effect
Using LEDs and a Modular Spectroscope
Lucia Diaz and Charles A. Smith*
Department of Chemistry, Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, TX 78207; *smitc@lake.ollusa.edu
Elementary spectroscopic investigations often utilize a
commercial spectroscope (1–4). To maintain calibration, these
devices have fixed positions for the slits and dispersive ele-
ment. Due to the rigidity and non-modular nature of these
spectroscopes, they may seem like a “black box” to students
since the students cannot investigate the role of each compo-
nent or the effect of position and orientation of each compo-
nent on calibration or resolution of the instrument. However,
use of a modular spectroscope allows students to understand
the operation of the components. A lab-built modular spec-
troscope is used in this experiment. Once the students fully
understand the operation of the components, they calibrate
the spectroscope using a light source with a known spectrum.
A circuit board containing colored light-emitting diodes (i.e.,
LEDs) is then used to measure a value for Planck’s constant
through a photoelectric-effect-type equation. This experiment
uses common items found in chemistry laboratories and lo-
cal electronics stores. The experiment is suitable for both col-
lege and high school courses.
Background
When a p-type semiconductor is manufactured with an
n-type semiconductor, the result is a p–n junction. A light-
emitting diode is a p–n junction. When a forward bias is ap-
plied to the LED (i.e., positive terminal is attached to the p
side and the negative terminal is attached to the n side) holes
are “injected” into the n side and electrons are “injected” into
the p side. The emission of light occurs when the holes re-
combine with the electrons (5). Regardless of whether the
semiconductor is of the n or p type, the unit charge that is
moved across the gap is the charge of an electron, (qe = 1.602
× 10᎑19 C.) Since voltage is electrical potential energy per unit
charge, the quantity of work, W, necessary to move a charge
slit on
slit
box
mercury open box
lamp path
of light
Figure 1. Schematic of the modular spectroscope. Each component is freely adjustable. The setup shows a mercury lamp as the calibration
light source.
906 Journal of Chemical Education • Vol. 82 No. 6 June 2005
W
in a region of voltage, V, is
(1)
W = q eV
When the voltage applied across the gap is sufficient, the gap
may be crossed and emission will occur; in this way emis-
sion from an LED is similar to the photoelectric effect. In
the photoelectric effect, energy is conserved since the energy
of the incoming photon is equal to the sum of the work func-
tion of the metal, Φ, and the kinetic energy of the removed
electron. A typical photoelectric equation is represented by
1
hν = Φ + me v e2 (2)
2
where h is Planck’s constant, ν is the frequency of radiation,
m is the mass of the electron, and v is the velocity of the
electron. The situation is somewhat different for emission of
light from an LED. No longer is the energy of the photon
equal to the total energy. The work necessary to move a charge
across the band gap in a semiconductor is equal to the sum
of the energy of the released photon and the energy lost to
inefficiencies in the LED (e.g., heat). Hence, for LED emis-
sion the following equation holds where M represents any
energy loss during the emission process.
W = q eV = h ν + M (3)
In this exercise it is assumed that all the LEDs have the same
value of M. This should be a good approximation since M is
small as LEDs are efficient consumers of energy converting
very little energy to heat.
Preparation
The setup for calibration of the modular spectroscope
is illustrated in Figure 1. A mercury discharge lamp serves as
zero band
grating projection
on wall
• www.JCE.DivCHED.org

a calibration light source since its emission spectrum is known
and spans a wide range of visible wavelengths. In Figure 1,
the slit after the light source consists of narrowly spaced ra-
zor blades taped onto a cardboard flat. A second razor blade
slit is on the side of a cardboard box, with the opposite side
open, that has been prepared by the instructor. The box serves
to prevent extraneous light from reaching the dispersed pro-
jection on the wall. A holographic grating1 suspended by a
clamp and lab stand is placed after the box.
The LED light source and power supply are illustrated
in Figure 2. The diodes and circuit board were purchased
from Radio Shack. The diodes have clear rather than colored
plastic and each emits a different wavelength. A regulated
power supply that outputs 4 V is sufficient. Slightly lower or
higher voltages may be necessary if a different resistor or vari-
able transformer2 is incorporated into the setup shown in Fig-
ure 2. Variable transformers are commonly found in
chemistry laboratories since they are used for controlling the
power supplied to heating mantles. The transformer is used
to make fine adjustments to the voltage applied across the
LED. A voltmeter with 0.01 mV resolution is connected
across the LED to monitor the voltage.
LEDs are easy to short circuit. The manufacturer’s speci-
fications stated on the packaging of a diode specify its cur-
rent and voltage maxima. To safeguard each LED, the output
of the power supply is kept constant and the voltage applied
across the LED is controlled with the transformer. The in-
structor provides either the maximum transformer setting or
the maximum voltage allowed for each diode. The 1.1 kΩ
resistor in Figure 2 limits the current.
Procedure
If a mercury lamp is used in a properly aligned system,
students will observe a projection on the wall similar to that
shown in Figure 3. Students move the light source, slits, and
grating making special note of the effect on resolution of the
colored bands, their width, and the position of the zero band.
LED variable
transformer
transformer
output
voltmeter
circuit 1.1 kΩ resistor
board
to regulated
power supply transformer
input
Figure 2. Schematic of the LED light source and power supply.
The power supply for the LED consists of a regulated power sup-
ply connected to the input (i.e., plug) of a variable transformer.
The output of the transformer is connected across the LED and
monitored with a voltmeter.
www.JCE.DivCHED.org • Vol. 82 No. 6 June 2005
In the Laboratory
The zero band consists of light from the source that passes
through the grating without diffraction. Resolution is in-
creased when the grating is moved farther from the projec-
tion since the bands become farther apart. Resolution is also
increased when the slit width in the box is decreased since
the bands do not change position but decrease in size, which
increases the precision of determining the center of each band.
These effects dramatically illustrate the advantages of using
long monochromators in conjunction with narrow slit widths
for maximum spectral resolution.
Once the operation of the spectroscope is understood
and resolution is optimized, students calibrate the apparatus
by marking with a pencil the centers of each band on the
projection. Calibration of the system involves measuring the
center-to-center distance between every band and the zero
band position. A plot of distance-from-the-zero-band versus
wavelength may then be used to determine wavelengths of
other sources shown through the spectroscope. When deter-
mining the distance from the zero band for a new light source,
the zero band of the new light source and that of the marked
the zero band position from the mercury lamp must overlap.
In order to make this alignment and maintain calibration,
the optimal spectroscope component to adjust is the light
source. The wavelengths of emission of the diodes are deter-
mined using the plot described above.
To determine Planck’s constant, a minimum voltage
measurement for each diode is necessary. Minimum-voltage
measurements are determined by slowly increasing from zero
the voltage applied across each diode and stopping when the
first faint glimmer of light is observed. This is a very fine
measurement and the use of a voltage transformer greatly sim-
plifies this measurement.
Hazards
Mercury lamps have strong peaks in the ultraviolet
region. Do not look directly into a mercury lamp—eye
damage may result.
Figure 3. The emission spectrum of a mercury lamp after pass-
ing through the spectroscope. The center band, which underwent
no diffraction, is referred to as the zero band.
• Journal of Chemical Education 907
 In the Laboratory

Analysis made through the use of LEDs and a photoelectric-type equa-

tion. All components necessary for construction of the ap-
From the data obtained using the mercury arc lamp, a paratus are inexpensive and consist of items commonly found
calibration curve of distance-from-the-zero-band versus wave- in college-level chemistry courses and electronics stores. Typi-
length is prepared. From this plot, the emission wavelengths cal student values of Planck’s constant have a relative per-
of the individual diodes are determined. The emission wave- cent error less than 7%. The error may be reduced by
lengths of the diodes in conjunction with the minimum volt- determining an average of two values for Planck constant
age measurements are then used to determine a value for when the bands on both sides of the zero band are used. Col-
Planck’s constant using the following equations. In eq 4 c is lege student evaluations reveal this laboratory exercise to be
the speed of light and λ is the emission wavelength of the interesting and stimulating. Additional observations for stu-
LED. dents to perform include determining the emission wave-
c length of an “unknown” LED or comparing the emission
ν = (4) spectrum of a white LED with that of an ordinary flashlight.
λ An interesting twist would be for the unknown LED to be
Substituting eq 4 into eq 3 and rearranging we find that of the type that emits more than one color.

W
Supplemental Material
hc 1 M
V = + (5)
qe λ qe Instructions for the students and a sample of a student’s
data are available in this issue of JCE Online.
where V is the minimum voltage necessary to observe emis-
sion of wavelength λ. From eq 5 it can be seen that a plot of Notes
1 1. The grating, part 3054510, can be purchased from
V versus (6)
λ Edmund Scientific (1-800-728-6999).
2. The transformer, part 09-521-130, can be purchased from
will produce a slope of Fisher Scientific (1-800-766-7000).

hc Literature Cited
(7)
qe
1. Wakabayashi, F.; Hamada, K.; Sone, K. J. Chem. Educ. 1998,
from which Planck’s constant may be determined. 75, 1569.
2. Wickun, W. G. J. Chem. Educ. 1998, 75, 1477.
Conclusion 3. Cortel, A.; Fernandez, L. J. Chem. Educ. 1986, 63, 348.
4. Edwards, R. K.; Brandt, W. W.; Companion, A. L. J. Chem.
This exercise involves manipulation of the components Educ. 1962, 39, 147.
of a spectroscope to gain insight into its operation, calibra- 5. Fowles, G. F. In Introduction to Modern Optics; Dover: New
tion, and resolution. A determination of Planck’s constant is York, 1989; p 288.

908 Journal of Chemical Education • Vol. 82 No. 6 June 2005 • www.JCE.DivCHED.org