Latest Developments in Solar Cell Technology: Solar Articles: Eco20/20

Latest Developments in Solar Cell Technology

With all of the promising choices for a clean, renewable energy source it appears that solar energy is, at least so far, the most viable for widespread use. The planet has an abundance of solar energy available and it is already being used in many areas as an efficient source of electricity. The technology is far from perfect, however. Solar power systems can be expensive and sometimes difficult to maintain. For this reason, there are researchers around the world ever searching for a better way to capture and utilize this precious commodity.

Genie Lens Technologies in Colorado has created a polymer film that applies to solar panels like a sticker sheet and increases energy output of the panels by 10%. The film contains microstructures that bend and redirect sunlight, causing increased absorption of energy and cutting down on loss through reflectivity.

The United States Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has invented a new type of solar cell that utilizes the full spectrum of available light, allowing more energy to be produced. The new type of cell is practical because it uses a common method for making superconductors. The cells are made of an alloy of mismatched semiconductors that are infused with nitrogen. Testing of these cells has been extremely successful.

In Israel, scientists at Tel Aviv University are conducting research into the properties of an insect that creates its own solar power. The insect being studied is the Oriental Hornet, which is able to produce solar electric power through its exoskeleton. After extensive research, scientists discovered that the brown stripes on the insects' bodies absorb solar radiation while the yellow stripes convert the radiation to electric power. Researchers hope that by mimicking these properties, they can develop the next generation of solar cells.

While not a solar cell, scientists at MIT have made a breakthrough that could make solar power infinitely more usable for all of us. They have discovered that a thermo-chemical, fulvalene diruthenium, has the ability to absorb and trap solar energy. Once the energy is trapped, the material remains stable indefinitely, making this a potential long-term, effective storage method for solar energy. When either heat or a catalyst stimulates the charged chemical, the trapped energy is released as heat. At the current time this technology is not cost effective for widespread use so scientists are working toward either finding a better catalyst or creating a synthetic version of fulvalene diruthenium.

Hopefully, advances such as these will soon make solar energy even more affordable and efficient. They are certainly a huge step in the right direction to spread the use of clean solar energy. Maybe we are finally on the brink of the time when people everywhere will be able to depend on the sun for all of their energy needs.

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