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Altered Organism Triples Solar Cell Efficiency
An anonymous reader writes "By harnessing the shells of living organisms in the sea, microscopic algae called diatoms, engineers have tripled the efficiency of experimental dye-sensitized solar cells. The diatoms were fed a diet of titanium dioxide, the main ingredient for thin film solar cells, instead of their usual meal which is silica (silicon dioxide). As a result, their shells became photovoltaic when coated with dyes. The result is a thin-film dye-sensitized solar cell that is three times more efficient than those without the diatoms."
So does this mean we now have to call them dye-atoms?
Don't bother throwing things...I've already taken cover.
I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
How long does it take to make a new sun? I mean...it will run out eventually...
-=Bang Bang=-
Nasty humans exploiting those defenseless unicellular creatures!
Diatoms that generate electricity... great! Who's in charge of soldering the leads to them so we can harness it ?
Of course diatoms are going to make better solar cells. I mean just look at the name, diatom is greek for two atoms. There's twice as many atoms there, so you'd guess they would make at least twice as good solar cells.
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0 is the magic number.
I got er. I just keep them loose all over the place, help yourself.
free range Hydrogen
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
It wasn't even an argument...I was being wholly pointless. Jeez, a new "super efficient solar cell of the month" story comes around and everyone puckers their sphincters like they're about to be exposed to the vacuum of space...
-=Bang Bang=-
Do the diatoms die from shock?
..you don't get much solar energy at night...
Solution: Flip the panels over and dig a deep, deep hole..
Not for diatoms, maybe, but for nano-sea-kittens?
Not a sentence!
Maybe they can do the same with humans, and we no longer need to eat: just hang out in the sun. My wife keeps telling me that I'm as lazy as a plant anyhow. Might as well go all the way.
Table-ized A.I.
I'm sorry, but three times something you'll never have is still zero.
If the teacher was using Bush's "faith based" standards, then the students would never have been told about the 100% limit on efficiency.