New Solar Panel Can Adsorb Infrared Light!

Solar panels are a great invention, the ability to convert light to a useable power source has long been investigated and advanced. In recent years its came leap and bounds in regards to not only how effective it was but also how the public have perceived it and accepted it, some countries even putting it into law. Now it could be getting even better.

With almost 50% of the energy given off by the sun as near infrared light, there is a huge gap in power that modern solar panels could accept. Most modern solar panels can still only accept visible light as an energy source, meaning that solar panels can only convert 20% of the light they receive into electricity.

A team from UC Riverside, however, may have come up with a way to help solve that low figure. The concept of converting two infrared photons into a visible photon, a process that had to be overcome to generate another 25% energy.

The team from UC Riverside has overcome this by passing the two infrared photons through an “organised compound” which in turn then produces a visible photon. While this initial step currently only has a benefit of less than 10% the team are hopeful that by using the process and refining it they will be able to create a more effective system and continue to help improve on solar panels and solar energy as a whole.

Thank you UCR Today for the information.

Image courtesy of Solar Power Panel System.