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Biomimicry 3.8
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Dye-sensitized Solar Energy
The activity, from the Biomimicry 3.8 Institute, provides an illustration of biomimetic technology. Students explore how to produce electricity by constructing a dye-sensitised solar cell at ambient temperatures, using a few simple materials. In the manufacturing of most solar cells, silica must be heated to separate the silicon from oxygen, so that it can be further processed into a solar cell. Processing silica to produce silicon is an energy-intensive process. Dye-sensitive solar cells (DSSCs) are an alternative way of creating solar cells by mimicking photosynthesis in leaves. Discussion questions encourage students to evaluate how ‘green’ solar energy is and to compare solar technologies.
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