Can you measure electricity generated by just shining light on a solar cell? On Wednesday, December 4th, VINSE welcomed 15 students from Community High School to our Cleanroom Solar Cell Lab. Inside the VINSE cleanroom, home of the cleanest air in middle Tennessee, the students created a full silicon/polymer hybrid 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 who helped lead activities and explained further for students. They are: Haley Dishman, Owen Meilander and Swarnim Nemma.
If your school is interested in this opportunity, please contact vinse@vanderbilt.edu for more information.