Nine first year nanoscience students have completed the first part of the talent track at iNANO.

Over a period of seven weeks (Q2) the students focused on topics related to nanomaterials inspired by nature. This resulted in four reports entitled: “The lotus effect”, “Sticky stuff! – A review of the gecko’s attachment system”, “Mussel-based wonderglue presents new facets of glue” and “Artificial photosynthesis”. The participants presented the projects to their fellow first-year students at a well-attended event.

In the third week of January the students carried out an intensive experimental project on energy technologies. The students synthesized thermoelectric modules and TiO₂- and perovskite based solar cells in addition to characterizing commercial fuel cells, solar cells and Peltier elements. Finally, the students designed small electric cars powered by these commercial components. The fastest car was solar driven and completed a 5.0 m distance in just 2.97 s. On the last day, the students participated in the Aarhus Winter Meeting at the Dept. of Chemistry.

We congratulate the students Rasmussen, Jakob D. Asmussen, Karl-Emil T. Bondgård, Jakob M. Smidt, Camilla Nielsen on completing the course and acknowledge their remarkable creativity and work ethics.