How does a solar cell work and how can you make one? On Friday November 15th, VINSE welcomed 16 students from White House Heritage High School to our Cleanroom Solar Cell Lab. They went inside the VINSE cleanroom, home of the cleanest air in middle Tennessee, and found out with hands-on activities! The students created a full silicon/polymer hybrid solar cell, measured the electricity generated by shining light on the solar cell, and used light-based stenciling to pattern metal electrodes like those used on solar cells. They also examined how to change the amount of electricity a solar cell collects, use that electricity to power a lightbulb, and explore how their results could make better solar cells.
Special thanks to our NanoGuides Emma Bartelsen, Owen Meilander, and Courtney Ragle for their invaluable assistance. They helped lead activities and explained fundamental scientific inquiries and made this event engaging!