Viruses can boost solar-cell efficiency: MIT study
April 26th, 2011 - 6:41 pm ICT by ANILondon, Apr 26 (ANI): MIT researchers have enlisted tiny viruses to help assemble solar cells and make significant improvements in their power-conversion efficiency.
Graduate students Xiangnan Dang and Hyunjung Yi - working with Angela Belcher, the W. M. Keck Professor of Energy, and several other researchers - found that a genetically engineered version of a virus called M13, which normally infects bacteria, can be used to control the arrangement of the nanotubes on a surface, keeping the tubes separate so they can’t short out the circuits, and keeping the tubes apart so they don’t clump.
The system the researchers tested used a type of solar cell known as dye-sensitized solar cells, a lightweight and inexpensive type where the active layer is composed of titanium dioxide, rather than the silicon used in conventional solar cells.
In their tests, adding the virus-built structures enhanced the power conversion efficiency to 10.6 percent from 8 percent - almost a one-third improvement.
This dramatic improvement takes place even though the viruses and the nanotubes make up only 0.1 percent by weight of the finished cell.
“A little biology goes a long way,” Belcher said.
The study was recently published online in the journal Nature. (ANI)
- Solar power goes viral for peak efficiency - Apr 26, 2011
- Transparent solar cells to tap windows for energy - Mar 21, 2012
- New solar cell technology boosts efficiency of photovoltaics - Apr 30, 2011
- Now, power your home with 'solar paint' - Dec 22, 2011
- New polymer-based solar-thermal device cuts heating cost by 40pc - Apr 05, 2011
- Breakthrough to boost solar cell output by 40 percent - Apr 19, 2012
- 'Quantum dots' technology to make solar cells more efficient, cheaper - Feb 21, 2011
- New 'iron sandwich' solar cells could help 'buildings generate electricity' - Jan 31, 2011
- Natural solar collectors on butterfly wings inspire more powerful solar cells - Feb 08, 2009
- Moth eyes inspire new film to boost solar power - Jan 21, 2011
- Ancient diatoms lead to new technology for solar energy - Apr 09, 2009
- Mobile battery life could last months thanks to nanotechnology - Mar 11, 2011
- Method to enhance solar energy found - Sep 13, 2010
- Carbon nanotube device can rapidly diagnose cancer, HIV - Mar 30, 2011
- Scientists unlock secret of cellular communication - May 02, 2011
Tags: angela belcher, bacteria, biology, circuits, clump, dang, dramatic improvement, dye sensitized solar cells, graduate students, journal nature, keck, m13, nanotubes, power conversion efficiency, significant improvements, silicon, solar cell efficiency, titanium dioxide, tubes, virus