Organic Solar Energy and Berries
This organic solar cell made in a research lab uses anthocyanin, an organic compound extracted from plants, such as blackberries and raspberries, that absorbs light energy.Copyright 2004 Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399 USA. All rights reserved. (left) and © 2011 Crystal A. Young, University of Houston (right)
Students learn about how a device made with dye from a plant, specifically cherries, blackberries, raspberries and/or black currents, can be used to convert light energy into electrical energy. They do this by building their own organic solar cells and measuring the photovoltaic devices' performance based on power output.
To address growing energy needs, many engineers are focused on optimizing efficiency in harvesting solar energy. They know that sometimes the most efficient device is not cost effective so a balance between material cost and device performance must be made.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe how energy is transferred and converted from sunlight in order to power a device.
- Define organic solar cell.
- List the benefits and drawbacks of organic solar cells.
- Define renewable energy.