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Plasmonic Nanostructures Could Prove a Boon To Solar Cell Technology

Posted by samzenpus on from the brighter-and-brighter dept.

Zothecula writes "Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have found a way to harvest energy from sunlight more efficiently, with the help of so-called plasmonic nanostructures. The new findings suggest that plasmonic components can enhance and direct optical scattering, creating a mechanism that is more efficient than the photoexcitation that drives solar cells. The development could therefore provide a real boost to solar cell efficiency and lead to faster optical communication."

2 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I will believe it when I can buy it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Big Oil keeps nipping every new development in the bud before it can be commercialized.

  2. Solar cells are already cheap enough by msevior · · Score: 4, Interesting

    While this all great Science, actually solar panels are already cheap enough in many parts of the world. Certainly they are in Australia since we have no tariffs on imported Chinese panels. What is really needed for greater market penetration is cheap storage. It would be great to have a around ~20 KWHr of storage for ~$2000 - $4000. Said storage needs to be stable over around 7000 cycles (20 years of operation) and provide of the order of 4 KW of power on demand. With this in place residential PV systems could provide over 20% of demand in many parts of the world.