Nicole Kuepper Cooks up Solar Panels
Who is ready to cook up some solar panels? How about a 23-year old PhD Engineering student who’s using some unique ingredients: nail polish, inkjet printers and pizza ovens.
No, its not a joke. And yes, its time to be in awe of Nicole Kuepper, a student at the University of New South Wales, Australia, who is working hard to reduce the cost of photovoltaic (PV) solar cells.
At her young age, Kuepper has already received two Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, which is the highest scientific award in the country. And I would say, its a highly deserved award!
As a result of Kuepper’s breakthrough discoveries, solar powered renewable energy may be more affordable around the world in the next 5 years. Particularly when it comes to Third World, developing countries, Nicole’s simple solar cell creation process can help bring the technology to many needy areas. As described on CalFinder:
The process uses a simple inkjet printer to spray acetone in an exact pattern onto a nail-polish-coated silicon wafer. It’s not the polish you’d buy at the salon, but it has similar components. The wafer is then covered with an aluminum spray and baked at about 550 degrees Fahrenheit.
This makes me wonder…. I have all of these ingredients, but I cannot cook up a solar panel to save my life. Thank goodness for smart women like Nicole Kuepper!
Tags: Australian Museum Eureka Prize, inkjet printer, nail polish, solar cells, Solar Panels, university of new south wales
That’s awesome! Just goes to show what people can accomplish.
There need to be more people, like her, who want to make solar (and other alternative energy options) more affordable.
Thanks for sharing this Steph
Thanks Tara! I love her keen mind and desire to bring solar to more people!
I love the idea that you can recycle what people called rubbish and make them into something useful.