# @chemteacherphil on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DNwlruf3FSO
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/64578491-chemteacherphil-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/3e4966aad9.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-08-25T01:16:19.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Phil Cook (@chemteacherphil) — https://gondola.cc/chemteacherphil

## Caption

Anthocyanins are a class of really cool organic molecules that are highly colored, but did you know they are useful for making a specific type of solar cell called a dye-sensitized solar cell? Unlike more common silicon based solar cells, dye-sensitized cells utilize a combination of a semiconductor material (in my case titanium dioxide, the same stuff found in many mineral sunscreens) and dye (I used wild black raspberries, but lots of fruits would also work). The dye absorbs energy from photons of visible light, exciting electrons within the dye molecule. These electrons have sufficient energy to be able to move through the titanium dioxide layer of the cell and externally through the circuit, generating current! While I don’t detail it in this video, there are other components needed for the cell, specifically an electrolyte that can regenerate the dye molecules through a redox process (I used an iodide/triiodide electrolyte) as well as some specialized conductive glass so electricity can flow throughout the cell as it operates. Cells like the one I made don’t generate a lot of current, but it was a fun project to see if I could get it to work! #chemistry #chemteacherphil

## Stats

- **Views:** 247,276
- **Likes:** 28,391
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 99

## Tags

chemistry, chemteacherphil

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