Solar panels see a significant boost in productivity, attributed to advancements in laser technology.
In a groundbreaking development, a team of researchers led by Professor Chunlei Guo at the University of Rochester has made significant strides in the field of solar energy conversion. This advancement, funded by the National Science Foundation, FuzeHub institute, and the Goergen Institute for Data Science and AI, promises to revolutionise the energy landscape, particularly in off-grid environments such as rural or remote areas.
Until now, the efficiency of solar thermoelectric generators was limited to around 0.8%, a barrier that the Rochester team has successfully surmounted by 15 times. The key to this advance is not in the semiconductor but in the design of its extremities. The team achieved this by applying femtosecond laser pulses to tungsten to create a nanostructured black metal, effectively turning it into a "mini solar greenhouse".
This innovation does not require modifying semiconductor materials, a significant advantage as it reduces complexity and cost. The blackened tungsten metal, when combined with the plastic covering, has been demonstrated to power LEDs at full brightness with limited sunlight. This could transform the conversion of thermal energy into electricity, making solar energy more accessible and efficient.
The team also applied the same technology to the aluminium of the cold side, generating microstructures that double the thermal performance of conventional heat sinks. This improvement could have far-reaching implications, from rural areas to portable devices and the Internet of Things.
Analysts project more than 43 GW of new solar energy annually from 2025, and the global market for thermoelectric generators is expected to reach $1.410 million by 2030, growing at an annual rate of 6.3%. Technologies like this could make a difference in the energy transition, as they don't rely on new components but optical modifications to common materials.
However, the challenge now is industrial scalability and environmental durability of the technology. As the solar energy sector continues to grow, overcoming these hurdles will be crucial to ensuring the widespread adoption of this promising new technology.
The U.S. has already seen a significant shift towards solar energy, with 78% of the new capacity installed from January to September 2024 coming from solar energy. This advance in solar thermoelectric generators could further accelerate this trend, contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
Read also:
- Kenya broadens economic zones featuring Olkaria's geothermal energy advantage
- Nutritional Healthcare: Linking Patients with Crucial Nourishment Through Medical Professionals
- Century Lithium Announces Production of Battery-Grade Lithium Metal Anodes from Angel Island Lithium Carbonate
- Truck manufacturers directed to cease enforcing immediate limp mode for low DEF emission regulations, according to EPA.
