Flexible solar sheet can capture more than 90 percent available light

[one...two...tree 2,762]

A University of Missouri engineer has developed a flexible solar sheet that captures more than 90 percent of available light. The move could be big gain for solar panel efficiency.

Today’s solar panels capture roughly 20 percent of available light.

Like most discoveries, these solar sheets won’t be available immediately, but Patrick Pinhero, an associate professor in the Missouri University Chemical Engineering Department, aims to make prototypes available in the next five years.

How do these efficient solar panels work?

Pinhero and his team developed a thin, moldable sheet of small antennas—dubbed nantenna—to harvest heat. Nantennas are capable of collecting solar irradiation in the neared infrared and optical regions of the solar spectrum. Pinhero worked with a team at the University of Colorado to extract electricity.

The teams are looking to secure funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and private investors. A second phase will focus on harvesting energy at industrial complexes.

It appears that these efficient solar sheets are designed to complement existing solar panels. The moldable sheets could be incorporated into roof shingles.

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/smart-takes/flexible-solar-sheet-can-capture-more-than-90-percent-available-light/16395?tag=mantle_skin%3Bcontent

[HappyInHawaii 6]

The oil and energy companies will buy the patents...................

I had a bunch more to say but Im not going to go off today.

[SMR 368]

A University of Missouri engineer has developed a flexible solar sheet that captures more than 90 percent of available light. The move could be big gain for solar panel efficiency.

Today’s solar panels capture roughly 20 percent of available light.

Like most discoveries, these solar sheets won’t be available immediately, but Patrick Pinhero, an associate professor in the Missouri University Chemical Engineering Department, aims to make prototypes available in the next five years.

How do these efficient solar panels work?

Pinhero and his team developed a thin, moldable sheet of small antennas—dubbed nantenna—to harvest heat. Nantennas are capable of collecting solar irradiation in the neared infrared and optical regions of the solar spectrum. Pinhero worked with a team at the University of Colorado to extract electricity.

The teams are looking to secure funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and private investors. A second phase will focus on harvesting energy at industrial complexes.

It appears that these efficient solar sheets are designed to complement existing solar panels. The moldable sheets could be incorporated into roof shingles.

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/smart-takes/flexible-solar-sheet-can-capture-more-than-90-percent-available-light/16395?tag=mantle_skin%3Bcontent

But what is the overall efficiency? The fact that the solar panel captures 90% of available light (in addition to being somewhat dubious considering the lack of details) doesn't imply that the panel is going to put out more electrical power. It may just get hotter.

[Zero Sum 305]

Back in the chem dept days of old I remember thin sheet projects in labs that claimed to be quite sucessful at high photonics to voltage turnover. The efficiency wasn't the problem. It was durability of the PV reaction in the material. Hope they have improved it since then.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Back in the chem dept days of old I remember thin sheet projects in labs that claimed to be quite sucessful at high photonics to voltage turnover. The efficiency wasn't the problem. It was durability of the PV reaction in the material. Hope they have improved it since then.

I tried to find out more about this finding, but even the original story from the University of Missouri is either blocked or deleted, so I'm wondering if somebody jumped the gun on this before there was any scrutiny?

[Zero Sum 305]

I'll check for you later. Have a few meetings in a couple of minutes.