Black silicon solar cells are a relativelynew technological advancethat allows for the concentration of light in the infrared spectrum — about 25 % of incoming sunlight . These cells are capable of pulling in an unbelievable 99.7 % of the light that hits their open , compared to traditional cells which steep 95 % . And now , owing to a breakthrough by German scientist , these cell have had their efficiency doubled .
Black atomic number 14 was developed back in the 1980s . It ’s a semiconductor material in which traditional Si has been modified to have extremely low reflectiveness ( hence its cryptic black coloring ) , enable it to engage both visible and infrared light . It has many likely applications , including photodetecting for various imaging and nighttime vision technologies .
But it can also be used for high - efficiency solar cell . Unlike traditional solar cell , dark silicon is capable of pull in in sunlight on cloudy day , while also being able to take in vigor from the Sunday at extreme angles ( i.e. ahead of time and late in the day ) . The last result is a black panel that can produce twice the amount of electricity of even PV dialog box .
And it now seem that the potential for black atomic number 14 cells has been open an additional boost . Stefan Kontermann of Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications has devised a newfangled technique in which he has doubled the efficiency of these cell .
He did so by changing the manufacturing mental process of black silicon . unremarkably , infrared light lack the energy postulate to conjure the electron in the so - called ‘ conductivity band . ’ But by bring out atomic number 16 into the process , he was able to produce an intermediary step in which the electrons were able to jump at the required levels , after which they can be win over into electrical energy . The push levels of the atomic number 16 was modified through the use of a laser pulsation , which is used to ray the silicon .
The next footprint for the researcher are to make algorithms that will aid them optimize the process and maximize efficiency .
H / t : CleanTechnica . Top image via Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications .
EnergyFuturismScienceSolar power
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