Eco Factor: Rugged solar cell design for more efficiency.
The amount of solar electricity generated by solar cells depends on the amount of sunlight the cells receive, which further depends on the amount of reflected light. The more the reflection, the less the output. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new mechanism by which solar cells can be made more efficient without increasing their cost.
These researchers have created bumps and peaks on the surface of the cell with the help of potassium hydroxide, which removes some silicon and creates a pyramid structure. This pyramid structure functions in two ways. Initially it helps water and dust to run off, keeping the cells clean at all times, which increases sunlight exposure. Secondly, the pyramid pattern decreases the amount of reflection, which again helps in increasing the overall output of the cell.
The Dark Side:
The cells seem to solve the problem of low efficiency, but the addition of potassium hydroxide will make these cells expensive. While research is already underway to reduce the cost of solar energy to $1 a watt, such factors will only make them expensive.
