Solar Cell Efficiency Boosted As Much As 50% With New Optical Element - Polidicks

[quote](Phys.org) —University of Utah electrical engineers have designed a thin layer made of a transparent plastic or glass that sorts and concentrates sunlight to boost the overall efficiency of solar cells by up to 50 percent. This layer, called a polychromat, can be integrated into the cover glass of a solar panel. It could also be used to boost power efficiency in a cellphone or improve low light conditions for a camera."Currently, high-efficiency solar cells are very expensive because they have to be carefully manufactured in a complex environment and are only cost-effective for space or defense applications like the Mars Rover," says Rajesh Menon, a Utah Science Technology and Research (USTAR) assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the U. "We have designed a very cheap optical element that can be incorporated into the cover glass of a solar panel that will separate sunlight into various colors." Solar cells absorb light from the sun and convert it into electricity. Despite its tremendous potential as a limitless resource of energy, solar power is currently a small fraction of the global energy supply, due to its high cost compared with conventional power sources. In addition, challenges in materials have further limited solar power's wide reach. Solar cell performance is directly linked to the efficiency of converting sunlight into electricity. Solar cells operate on the concept that one absorbed bundle of light from the sun, called a photon, generates electrical charge carriers in a layer of material within the solar cell that then becomes electricity. However, sunlight is made up of different wavelengths of light, ranging from ultraviolet to visible to infrared. Light at different wavelengths is made of photons at different energies. Conventional solar cells only absorb a narrow range of wavelengths very efficiently. The energy at other wavelengths is not absorbed at all or is converted into waste heat rather than electricity. As a result, a solar cell can only convert so many photons into electricity, up to a theoretical limit of about 33.5 percent efficiency (called the Shockley-Queissner limit). In this new study, Menon and electrical engineering graduate student Peng Wang designed a polychromat. The polychromat was 50 millimeters wide by 10 millimeters long, with 3 micrometer wide grooves to sort incoming light. The polychromat was made using photolithography for this study, but Menon says it can now be made cheaply by creating a mold of the polychromat and then stamping it out like a DVD.[/quote] [url=http://phys.org/news/2014-06-boosting-solar-cell-efficiency-optical.html]Phys.org[/url]

Wasn't there something similar to this a few months ago? Some of the phrasings sound familiar.

Not sure, but I honestly wouldn't be surprised. Either way though, hopefully the process of producing the solar panels via this method will not be as destructive and pollutant as the current method.

And Solar Roadways are still unviable.

Just as I spent over 20k on solar panels for my house..... :(

Still not as good as solar heat collectors.

[QUOTE=maxolina;45181325]Just as I spent over 20k on solar panels for my house..... :([/QUOTE] ouch.

[QUOTE=maxolina;45181325]Just as I spent over 20k on solar panels for my house..... :([/QUOTE] It will probably take quite a while before this technology becomes standard, don't feel bad.

[QUOTE=download;45181305]And Solar Roadways are still unviable.[/QUOTE] Even with 100% efficiency it still would be

Wouldn't solar roadways be pretty expensive to maintain etc? I mean, solar panels probably don't work very well when covered in dirt...

[QUOTE=Warship;45181934]Wouldn't solar roadways be pretty expensive to maintain etc? I mean, solar panels probably don't work very well when covered in dirt...[/QUOTE] Just don't drive on them :v: Problem solved.

Well, this is certainly a step forward for solar power. But solar roadways being a form of power generation still doesn't seem sensible for the sheer fact that you'd end up driving over the damn things all the time and lowering its generation capabilities with every fine layer of dirt left from tire-tracks. Personally, I think having solar roofing over the roads, like a weird kind of large greenhouse tunnel, would probably work better, being above the road and having some light pass through to gently illuminate the road with the unabsorbed frequencies, along with the occasional lamp here and there for better illumination at night. Still a bit far-fetched, yes, but it'd be more efficient and less disruptable than making the roads themselves solar panels.

[QUOTE=ironman17;45182441]Well, this is certainly a step forward for solar power. But solar roadways being a form of power generation still doesn't seem sensible for the sheer fact that you'd end up driving over the damn things all the time and lowering its generation capabilities with every fine layer of dirt left from tire-tracks. Personally, I think having solar roofing over the roads, like a weird kind of large greenhouse tunnel, would probably work better, being above the road and having some light pass through to gently illuminate the road with the unabsorbed frequencies, along with the occasional lamp here and there for better illumination at night. Still a bit far-fetched, yes, but it'd be more efficient and less disruptable than making the roads themselves solar panels.[/QUOTE] Perhaps instead there could be piezoelectric circuits embedded in the road, so when you drive over them it generates power.

[QUOTE=paul simon;45181797]Even with 100% efficiency it still would be[/QUOTE] Energetically it would be fine, even the color change caused by environmental pollution is dangerous to glaciers in some areas. Pure black with no light/heat conversion would give you a small toaster worth of power every few square meters on average (including night time), though the issues with road texture would still remain and just putting the panels on roofs (with inclination) would still be [U]far[/U] better economically. [editline]22nd June 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=Phaselancer;45183847]Perhaps instead there could be piezoelectric circuits embedded in the road, so when you drive over them it generates power.[/QUOTE] That directly increases fuel costs by an equal amount since it adds a tiny upwards slope to every movement. People keep coming up with these "free power from the roads" schemes while forgetting that all known forces are conservative and therefore have equal reaction and no net energy gain. (Conservative forces in physics are those which do no work on a circular path with everything else being static.)

[QUOTE=Phaselancer;45183847]Perhaps instead there could be piezoelectric circuits embedded in the road, so when you drive over them it generates power.[/QUOTE] I've no idea why I didn't think of that, but it sounds so crazy it could actually work. A piezoelectric road does seem like it makes more sense than a solar roadway, but a solar roof-tunnel above a piezoelectric road however sounds like it'd be even more energy-productive, not to mention good for keeping the desert sun off you as you're zooming down Route 66. ALSO I just worked out another "no-brainer" benefit to the solar roof-tunnel, in that it could help keep the rain off if it's tipping down, and runs off the roof down to the unsheltered far sides of the road (beyond the immediate roadside). So all in all a combination of piezoelectric road and solar roof-tunnel could make for an eco-friendly way to generate energy and protect folks from both desert sun and torrential downpour. It'd probably need proper ventilation for dispersing potential fume build-up, using a couple of extractor fans and rerouting vents since there's a roof over the whole road, but all in all it'd certainly be rather empowering come rain or shine. Well, mostly shine and on travel-heavy days, but you get the picture.

[QUOTE=ironman17;45184157]I've no idea why I didn't think of that, but it sounds so crazy it could actually work. A piezoelectric road does seem like it makes more sense than a solar roadway. A solar roof-tunnel above a piezoelectric road however sounds like it'd be ideal for hot summer drives, providing relative shade as drivers travel down those roads. ALSO I just worked out another "no-brainer" benefit to the solar roof-tunnel, in that it could help keep the rain off if it's tipping down, and runs off the roof down to the unsheltered far sides of the road (beyond the immediate roadside). So all in all a combination of piezoelectric road and solar roof-tunnel could make for an eco-friendly way to generate energy and protect folks from both desert sun and torrential downpour. It'd probably need proper ventilation for dispersing potential fume build-up, using a system of extractor fans and rerouting vents since there's a roof over the whole road, but all in all it'd certainly be rather empowering come rain or shine. Well, mostly shine and on travel-heavy days, but you get the picture.[/QUOTE] Just do not have the overhang go all the way to the ground, leave a gap so that air can still circulate through the tunnel.

[QUOTE=Phaselancer;45183847]Perhaps instead there could be piezoelectric circuits embedded in the road, so when you drive over them it generates power.[/QUOTE] in that case you're using a portion of everyone's of petrol (and the money they pay for their petrol) to generate energy (and lose a lot in the process) you may as well just raise taxes on petrol a bit and use that money to make a power station that just burns petrol to generate electricity; that would be more efficient

[QUOTE=maxolina;45181325]Just as I spent over 20k on solar panels for my house..... :([/QUOTE] I'm sure they'll find a way to retrofit older panels, there's too good of a market there for that not to.

[QUOTE=maxolina;45181325]Just as I spent over 20k on solar panels for my house..... :([/QUOTE] How long do you expect for those solar panels to pay for themselves.

[QUOTE=assassin_Raptor;45184191]Just do not have the overhang go all the way to the ground, leave a gap so that air can still circulate through the tunnel.[/QUOTE] I wasn't really thinking about a fully-enclosing thing like Blackwall Tunnel or any of those tunnels that go through mountains, I was thinking more of an elevated roof that stood around 8 or so feet up above the ground on advanced supports, with a solid core to contain all the electronics, and a safely-designed crumple-friendly exterior for when car accidents happen (not so solid that it's unsuitable as a crash barrier, but not soft enough for the car to end up damaging the inner struts if it crashed). I'm no engineer, but I'm sure it'd work if done right.

[QUOTE=Tamschi;45184044] People keep coming up with these "free power from the roads" schemes while forgetting that all known forces are conservative and therefore have equal reaction and no net energy gain. (Conservative forces in physics are those which do no work on a circular path with everything else being static.)[/QUOTE] Its not as if they're trying to create new energy, they're just trying to harness the forces that a car exerts on it's surroundings. Also, the extra energy to pass over the circuit is completely negligible off paper when so many other factors like poor road conditions and traffic/braking are unavoidable

[QUOTE=maxolina;45181325]Just as I spent over 20k on solar panels for my house..... :([/QUOTE] At least it didn't like, break them or anything. You'll still get your money back in about 10-15 years (I think that was the time it takes for solar panels to pay for themselves)

great, now combine this with the other dozen things that have been shown to boost efficiency and we'll be talking about 175% efficient solar pannels

[QUOTE=Tamschi;45184044](Conservative forces in physics are those which do no work on a circular path with everything else being static.)[/QUOTE] Closed path, not circular. It could be circular but it doesn't have to be.

[QUOTE=Sableye;45185601]great, now combine this with the other dozen things that have been shown to boost efficiency and we'll be talking about 175% efficient solar pannels[/QUOTE] Use them to power a light that shines at more solar panels, infinite energy!

[QUOTE=maxolina;45181325]Just as I spent over 20k on solar panels for my house..... :([/QUOTE] Considering this is placed on top, perhaps you could simply get a panel of this polychromat and place it on top?

The "free road power" idea that seems best to me is wind turbines at the top of tunnels and under overpasses.

[QUOTE=Sableye;45185601]great, now combine this with the other dozen things that have been shown to boost efficiency and we'll be talking about 175% efficient solar pannels[/QUOTE] This is why I'm always sceptical of things that claim to increase efficiency by X% - do they mean the percentage difference between the new and old efficiencies is X, or do they mean that the difference between the efficiencies (which is itself a percentage value) is X. (ie 20% efficiency increased by 50% -> 30% or 70% :v: )

[QUOTE=Sableye;45185601]great, now combine this with the other dozen things that have been shown to boost efficiency and we'll be talking about 175% efficient solar pannels[/QUOTE] Quick, what's 30% of 20? Hint: it's not even close to 100.

[QUOTE=Falcqn;45187505]This is why I'm always sceptical of things that claim to increase efficiency by X% - do they mean the percentage difference between the new and old efficiencies is X, or do they mean that the difference between the efficiencies (which is itself a percentage value) is X. (ie 20% efficiency increased by 50% -> 30% or 70% :v: )[/QUOTE] In the context of solar panels, any improvement for low cost is great, since efficiency is already so low and improvement due to subverting theoretical limitations rather than fine-tuning characteristics is far more progressive.