A Fully Transparent Solar Cell: This Could Make All Windows & Screens A Power Source
by Alanna Ketler http://www.collective-evolution.com/2015/03/24/a-fully-transparent-solar-cell-this-could-make-all-windows-screens-a-power-source/
Another incredible
technology has been invented by researchers at Michigan State
University: a fully transparent solar concentrator which has the
capability of turning any window or sheet of glass into a photovoltaic
solar cell. Just think about the possibilities! You could keep your
phone charged whenever you are outdoors or in the sun, power gadgets
inside your home, and power functions on your car such as air
conditioning.
According to lead researcher Richard
Lunt, the team is confident that these transparent solar connectors can
be efficiently used in numerous settings from “tall buildings with lots
of windows or any kind of mobile device that demands high aesthetic
quality like a phone or e-reader.”
Doesn’t This Already Exist?
Some of the other solar cell
technologies that have come out claiming to be transparent, simply put,
aren’t. Many have been trying to create such a thing, but it is a tough
technology to develop because when you think about turning light into
energy, and then you think about how light simply passes through glass,
how is it even really possible? Other transparent wannabes are also
known to cast a colorful shadow when the light does shine through.
Lunt stated an obvious observation about
this: “No one wants to sit behind colored glass, it makes for a very
colorful environment, like working in a disco. We take an approach where
we actually make the luminescent active layer itself transparent.”
What Makes This Device Different?
The beauty of this device is that the
solar concentrator that is harvesting the light for power can be layered
on top of a clear piece of glass without completely weakening the
sunlight’s ability to pass through it. The perimeter of the cell
contains small photovoltaic strips, which means it is basically a
miniaturized version of a solar panel. These react with infrared light,
which is invisible to the naked eye and produces solar electricity.
Unfortunately at this time theses panels
are only offering an efficiency of 1%, but researchers are confident
that they can reach at least 5% in the near future. Sure, these aren’t
huge figures overall, but multiply that by every window in a house, or
car, and you can begin to see that this could be very beneficial,
particularly for skyscrapers and office buildings where virtually every
wall is just windows.
The Possibilities Are Endless
Just imagine being able to have these
solar concentrators wherever you like without having to have those big,
intrusive solar panels sticking out like a sore thumb. This makes energy
from sunlight a lot more appealing to business and homeowners alike.
Not too mention the fact that energy from the sun itself is virtually
free! All you need is the solar connector and you are good to go.
The future of technology is exciting.Much Love
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