Scientists will improve the efficiency of solar panels

Scientists have determined that carbon nanotubes can significantly increase the efficiency of solar cells. Article researchers appeared in the journal Science, a summary of its results ScienceNOW.Izvestno that when a photon hit in a molecule of some material in it there are electrons. At the same time they appear in the form of excitons - the quasi-particles, which consist of positively charged holes and negatively charged electrons. In this case the existing solar panels on a single photon typically has one exciton, and the remaining energy goes into teplo.Dostatochno scientists have long assumed that the situation may look quite different when it comes to objects of nanometer size. In the new work, researchers tested this hypothesis. To do this, they are "stretched" carbon nanotube between two electrodes. This battery was irradiated by laser pulses. As a result, researchers have been able to ensure that each photon in the material encountered at least two eksitona.Po Researchers say the new technology is still far from mass use. Installation created by them is, rather, for practical evidence of the effect of several quasiparticles of a single photon. In the future, but scientists hope that the use of this technology will increase the efficiency of solar cells, which is for industrial models now is about 20 per cent (ie 20 per cent of solar energy is converted into electricity). Recently, scientists managed to achieve record efficiency solar cells - 43 percent . The previous record was 42.8 percent and was set in 2007. The researchers note that the value was obtained in the laboratory. For example, the light before it passes to the battery focused special lenses.