A plastic that captures solar energy?

A major technological advance
Researchers at the Ted Sargent team in Canada (MIT Laboratory Microphotonics and Nortel Networks) developed a plastic that combines quantum dots, which are tiny semiconductors, with a polymer. The nanoparticles obtained, which measure between 2 and 4 nanometers, are capable of capturing the wavelengths of the solar spectrum such as infrared.
They convert light energy into electricity with an efficiency 5 times higher than conventional photovoltaic cells. Indeed, conventional solar panels only use half of the solar energy received and have a yield limited to 6%. The solar plastic of Ted SARGENT's team is capable, at least in the laboratory and according to Professor Peter PEUMANS of Stanford University, of an efficiency of 30%.

Which applications?

 

Among the possible applications it is possible to place the nanoparticles in paints or in clothes and form photosensitive films. These films could cover a wide range of surfaces such as walls or our jackets. They will then be able to charge phones, music players and this without any son.

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The question is whether this technology will overcome the technical and financial obstacles to industrial scale production.

 

source: Notre-Planete.info

 

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