Three-dimensional solar cells which can capture nearly all of the light which strikes them have been developed by the Georgia Tech Research Institute in the US.
The 3D solar cells should improve the efficiency of photovoltaic systems, while allowing a reduction in size, weight and mechanical complexity.
“Our goal is to harvest every last photon that is available to our cells,” said Jud Ready, senior research engineer at Georgia, pictured observing one of the fabrication processes for the cells.
“By capturing more of the light in our 3D structures, we can use much smaller photovoltaic arrays. On a satellite or other spacecraft, that would mean less weight and less space taken up with the photovoltaic system.”
The photovoltaic cells trap light between 100micron tall tower structures, which are built from arrays containing millions of vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes.
Conventional flat solar cells reflect a significant amount of
the light that strikes them while the towers can trap and absorb light received from various angles.