A Plant cell
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of technology (MIT) have found a way to battle a common problem that the solar industry is facing. When a solar panel is developed in the laboratory, the efficiency levels can be very high. But as soon as they are introduced in to the real world sun shine, they deteriorate very fast and lower the efficiency rating. The MIT folks have found a way to make the solar cells heal themselves automatically and maintain the original efficiency level.
The MIT scientists achieved this effect by mimicking the photosynthesis process in plants. The cells there breakdown and reform each time to gather energy from sunlight and yet brave through the damage caused by the radiation. In the new system, the solar cells are made of synthetic molecules that form disc -like formations in order to support the proteins that actually respond to the light. These molecules then form ‘reaction centers’ that release electrons when hit by light.
In a suspended solution, the reaction centers spontaneously attach themselves to carbon nanotubes that both hold them in place and also transmit the electrons released. The scientists then introduced a surfactant into the solution to make the lipids breakup. This is the same kind of surfactant that is used to break down up oil spills, like the one in the Gulf.
Once this surfactant is removed from the solution using a membrane, the structure actually rearranges itself and regains the original formation, ready to react to light once again. Through a 14 hour test of continuous break down and reassembly of this structure, the researchers saw no drop in the efficiency of the cells. According to them, the efficiency wasn’t all that great to start with but it can be as high as 100% with further research.
[via]
