Dye-sensitized solar cells & raspberries

Our first experiment will be on dye-sensitized solar cells.  Invented in 1991 by Michael Gratzel, dye-sensitized solar cells can be made with low-cost materials such as titanium dioxide, and even fruit juice!  The important thing is for the fruit juice to contain a molecule that can absorb as much of the solar spectrum as possible.  Red, blue, and purple colored fruits such as raspberries contain a molecule called anthocyanin that can absorb a large portion of the solar spectrum and can be used in the dye-sensitized solar cell.