Eco Trees

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have founded a new way to improve solar cell efficiency. The new treatment for silicon photovoltaic solar cells can increase cell efficiency in two ways by creating bumps and peaks on the surface.

Now i will explain how this experiment works: the surface structures prevent water and dust from coming into contact with the cells. When water smash the surface, it beads together and runs off, collecting any dust or dirt along with it. Solar cells will work at maximum light absorption at all times with the help of this self-cleaning mechanism.

Next the researchers combine potassium hydroxide with the silicon. This reaction removes some silicon and creates pyramid structures. Now they will create a second layer of structures by using an “e-beam process” to apply microscopic gold particles to the pyramids that act as a catalyst when hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen fluoride are added to the mix.

“The more sunlight that goes into the photovoltaic cells and the less that reflects back, the higher the efficiency can be,” said C.P. Wong, Regents’ professor and author of the study. “Our simulations show that we can potentially increase the final efficiency of the cells by as much as two percent with this surface structure.”

[via Cleantechnica]