Solar energy depends on
light… more specifically, on certain parts of the spectrum of light, with the
current solar panel design capturing the red/infrared or blue section of the
spectrum depending on the exact design.
Scientists have known for some time
that this isn’t the most effective section of the spectrum to get the most
energy from the sunlight. Light's spectrum moves through infrared,
orange/yellow, blue, green, ultraviolet. The most effective section of light is
the green section which is just beyond the scope of the current light sections
that are being accessed by modern solar technologies.
Through experimentation with
different materials and shape, researchers at MIT have discovered that poking a
microscopic hole in the material that the solar cell is made of creates a
funnel effect that allows a much larger spectrum of light to be exposed. That
allows for a greater excitation of the electrons which in turns increases
electricity production. Outside of a greater light range being exposed the
funnel effect creates a greater ability for the photons to bounce around in the
actual funnel, knocking off more electrons generating an even greater electric
current.
Once these particles have
finished bouncing around the inside of the funnel, they will then be drawn
towards the bottom by an electrostatic current, confining the particles at the
bottom of the funnel making them much more effective
in the production of energy. The researchers do point out that at this point
the entire model is still theoretical, though similar ideas have been
implemented successfully in the past by companies such as IBM and Intel in
their electric transistors.
If
this new design is implemented, it will change the actual material that solar
panels are made out of. Instead of a crystalline or amorphous silicon
structure, it will be made out of a new, “stretchier” material known as
molybdenum disulphide, which has similar properties to silicon in its ability
to conduct energy, but is made of a material better suited to be shaped into
the necessary funnel for maximum energy efficiency.
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