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Hairy Solar Cells Could Mean Higher Efficiency

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the warm-fuzzy dept.

kitzilla writes "Two research groups working independently have come up with what they say are cheap processes for growing nanowires to be used with solar cells. The 'hairy' cells provide a direct path for electrons collected at the panel face to reach an electrode, something which has the potential to dramatically improve system efficiency."

3 of 203 comments (clear)

  1. Let me guess... by kiick · · Score: 5, Funny
    They expect to have something ready in 3 to 5 years.

    If every solar cell advance that was announced actually led to improvements of solar cells you could actually buy, then they would be 99.9999999% efficient and cost less than crackers.

    But I'm not bitter, nooooooo.

    1. Re:Let me guess... by AdamTrace · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Remember, solar power is generally available HERE and NOW.

      I just invested in a PV system for my house (in sunny SoCal). As a computer geek, I asked our guy if it was stupid to invest, since there always seem to be efficiency breakthroughs on the horizon.

      He reminded me that efficiency generally meant "smaller" and perhaps "cheaper". But since my roof was plenty adequate for what I needed, "smaller" wasn't really an issue. Cheaper will ALWAYS be the case, as it always has been.

      Don't get frozen by the thought that solar power isn't worth investing in today. It totally is.

      Adman

  2. Re:Anonymous Coward by QuasiEvil · · Score: 5, Informative

    AC's got it right. For those who are TLTRTFM (Too Lazy To ...), what the poster should have said is that they help channel charge carriers away from the junction so that they don't immediately recombine. *That* is one of the holy grails of PV design, and one of the reasons that current production cells are incredibly inefficient.