Posted on 12/19/2013 9:43:18 PM PST by Utilizer
For use in windows, solar cells need to absorb enough light to produce sufficient energy, but let enough pass through to be transparent. Organic photovoltaic materials can absorb infrared light and pass visible light, but they have very low efficiencies. Inorganic semiconductors, such as amorphous silicon, absorb strongly in the visible part of the spectrum, so the films have to be very thin to be transparent, thus decreasing the amount of photons they capture. They also tend to give windows a brownish or reddish tint, which architects dislike.
The Oxford team, led by physicist Henry J. Snaith, made their solar cells using perovskites, a class of mineral-like crystalline materials that has recently grabbed much attention among researchers in photovoltaics. Perovskites have properties similar to inorganic semiconductors and show sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiencies of more than 15%.
(Excerpt) Read more at cen.acs.org ...
Oh, those windows....nevermind. (8^D)
*snicker* Thanks for the laugh, mate.
I agree.
In fact I predict developments such as this, using different applications to harness solar power will boom in the next decade or so.
And like the article said, if this can eventually be developed and be cost effective, think about all the windows in high rise building etc...
Your windows will be dark but you can turn on the lights anytime during the day.
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