Where are the 70% Efficient Solar Cells?

VernonNemitz asks: "Back in 1984 a patent was granted for silicon chip micro rectennas, which would convert visible photons into electricity in the same way that ordinary rectennas convert microwaves into electricity, at perhaps 70% or greater efficiency. Nobody could make such solar cells back in 1984, but we certainly can today, with sizes of antennas that would capture everything from infrared to the edges of UV -- and the patent has expired. So, where are they?" Currently the most popular type of solar technology is photovoltaics, however PV technology only has an efficiency of about 7-17%. With the potential gains claimed by the technology in the cited patent, has anyone even tried to build one of these units to see if it can live up to the given promise, or at least prove to be a technology than we should be exploring?

Comments

Re:Why we have to have 80%+

[AtariDatacenter]

Personally, I like the weather change. I think we need to burn some more of the oil to even out the seasons. 70F made for an awesome winter day in Oklahoma today. If there is anything I can do to contribute more to days like this, I'd do it. I'm not sure I like these rectenna things.

Re:I started to build one...

[Lord Bitman]

3 miles to the gallon would mean larger gas tanks, not smaller. Bitch.