Biologically Enhanced Solar Cells

Let's combine the hibiscus flower with the semiconductor chip ... yeah that would be a fun afternoon project .. at least to a cool professor Benard Aduda of the University of Nairobi UoN had decided to attempt such an act

Why?

Well a now there is interest in enlisting nature to help use make better solar cells. Since plants have been conducting photosynthesis for millions of years, well ... maybe getting some help from plants could take solar cell technology to a whole new level.

I found Prof. Aduda's profile while browsing through profiles and research work on the physics dept website of the University of Nairobi. Prof. Aduda and his research group are attempting to improve the efficiency of Titanium oxide semiconductor solar cells using anthocyanin pigments extracted from the Hibiscus.

Its all about creating the organic solar cell. Anthocyanin-based solar cells might not have the highest efficiency of solar cells but offer could potentially be the cheapest to manufacture thus making such photocells costeffective solutions to our energy plans.

I wonder who else in Kenya is involved in this research field?!