New Affordable Solar Cell

Recently, researchers at the Stanford Institute have invented a method that can continuously absorb both sunlight and heat. Using this method, it will be possible to create advanced solar cells that are twice as efficient as current solar cells. Reported by Science Daily.

According to the researchers, this method of absorbing sunlight is known as ‘Photon Enhanced Thermionic Emission’ or, in short, PETE.

The researchers added that this method is different from conventional solar cells. In traditional solar cells, efficiency drops as temperature increases, but thanks to the materials used in PETE, efficiency does not decrease when temperatures rise.
The news outlet reported, citing the researchers, that traditional solar cells operate according to the photovoltaic mechanism. Thus, when exposed to more heat, the components of the solar cell get hot and lose efficiency. In contrast, PETE does not follow this usual law of physics.

The researchers have stated that the device uses a silicon-based compound that, instead of heating up when exposed to heat, actually absorbs it and stays cooler.

According to the researchers, the higher the temperature, the more energy it produces. While ordinary cells begin to lose efficiency at 100 degrees Celsius, PETE’s efficiency increases even above 200 degrees Celsius.

It is also known that when light falls on the PETE device, which looks like a dish, electricity is generated and the excess heat is used in the thermal conversion system.

Notably, PETE uses readily available and inexpensive materials. Therefore, the cost of energy produced by this device will also be significantly lower.

Published on RTNN: 26 August 2010