May 02, 2009
"ENERGY: Living organisms triple solar cell efficiency"
Posted by: admin : Category: Technology
By harnessing the shells of living organisms in the sea–microscopic algae called diatoms–engineers have tripled the efficiency of experimental dye-sensitized solar cells. The diatoms were fed a diet of titanium dioxide–the main ingredient for thin film solar cells–instead of their usual meal which is silica (silicon dioxide). As a result, their shells became photovoltaic when coated with dyes. The resulting dye sensitize solar cells were three times more efficient than those without the diatoms.
Text: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=216500176
