Last week the First Year Seminar students in Dr. Anderson's
CHEM-N 190 Nanotechnology: Size Matters class made solar cells from raspberry juice and
titanium dioxide on a semiconductive glass surface. This is an example of Dye
Sensitized Solar Cells which are at the cutting edge of thin film solar
photovoltaic technology. With two-inch square panels, students cranked out a
satisfying 0.3 volts per panel (see bottom left picture)! It
helped that the day happened to be mostly sunny. With this experience making
solar cells, they should be well-informed for this week's field trip to
Inovateus Solar. Anderson's course is the second course offered at IU South Bend to focus on nanotechnology to support the new nanotechnology tracks offered for certain STEM majors.
