Over the last decade we have witnessed the constant growth in the diffusion of solar panels. These tools, which are based on a principle that is as simple as it is effective, can help companies recover the right amount of sustainable energy.
We are still a long way from sustainable cities powered entirely by renewable resources, but we can boast a consistent growth in solutions based on renewables.
One technology always "in the laboratory": the researchers are working to improve its performance, up to obtaining solar panels capable of absorbing incoming light from all directions.
Scientists at the University of Surrey and Imperial College London tried to achieve this result.
Following several experiments, the team made an ultra-thin solar panel with 25% more absorption compared to other panels of the same size.
Let's see how they did it and how the new “honeycomb” panel works.
Solar panels capture light at different angles
The team worked on a panel with a very particular shape, able to maximize its effectiveness. To make these new solar panels, silicon was used, a flexible and fit-for-purpose material. Dr.Marian Florescu (Advanced Technology Institute) explained what the difficulty was at the beginning and how the shape helped the panel absorb even more light.
One of the challenges of working with silicon is that nearly a third of light bounces directly off it without being absorbed or producing energy. A structured layer across the silicon helps address this issue, and our messy, yet hyper-uniform honeycomb design is particularly effective.
More biomimicry
The new design is inspired by the wings of butterflies and the eyes of birds, harnessing nature to help technology. The new panels are able to attract light from every available angle, thanks to their revolutionary receptive surface.
Potential applications for this new discovery range from photovoltaics to space technology, creating a unique precedent in the world of sustainable energy. Thanks to the new design, even areas with limited light exposure could benefit from the use of solar panels.
With reference to the chosen material and manufacturing technique, ACS Publications recently published a document in which he defines the project as “the latest economical, reliable and ecological solution to exploit solar energy”.
We just have to wait for the project to attract the attention of commercial partners of a certain level. If the game is worth the candle, very soon we could see honeycomb panels on the roofs of large companies.
A big step towards a decidedly more sustainable industry.
