High Capacity Solar Cells

Researchers from Stanford University found that solar cells have a high level of efficiency. Electricity generated 50 percent more than the general solar generators.

The researchers refer to this technology as the Photon-Enhanced Thermionic Emission (PETE). The concept of the tool was first demonstrated in 2010 by a group of materials science Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences (SIMES) a joint institute of Stanford University and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. For three years, they fix tool to finally find a tool with an efficiency of 100 times higher than the initial concept.

"It is an important step in the manufacture of devices that efficiently capture the sun's energy and heat," said the expert SIMES materials, Jared Schwede.

High capacity solar cells called "Photon-Enhanced Thermionic Emission (PETE)" (Picture from: http://cleantechnica.com/)

"This is a major step toward making practical devices based on our technique for harnessing both the light and heat energy provided by the sun," said Nicholas Melosh, associate professor of materials science and engineering at Stanford and a researcher with SIMES.

The greatness of this tool is obtained after the researchers can capture more energy from light. The sun emits energy in various wavelengths. Solar cells are generally only capture partial wavelength. PETE capture almost all wavelengths emitted by the sun.

A diagram of Stanford’s photon-enhanced thermionic emission (PETE) device. Concentrated sunlight (red arrows at the top) heats up the device’s semiconductor cathode (beige and grey upper plate) to more than 400 degrees Centigrade. Photoexcited hot electrons (blue dots) stream out of the cathode’s nanotextured underside down to the anode (white/gray surface), where they are collected as direct electrical current. Additional solar and device heat is collected below the anode (arrow shows the cool-to-hot, blue-to-red flow) to run electricity-generating steam turbines or Stirling engines. (Picture from: http://cleantechnica.com/)

At high temperatures, these tools increase performance. Therefore, PETE would be very suitable for use in power plants that use parabolic collectors, as used in the Mojave Desert, California, United States. "Solar power generation such as in California may have increased capacity by 50 percent," says Jared.

PETE secret lies in two semiconductor layers. The first layer is used to capture sunlight, and then to release electrons. The second layer is an electron catcher. Cesium oxide membrane on the second layer acts as the power to the electronic equipment.

Subsequent development will involve material barium or strontium as a semiconductor. Both are known to create electricity in a stable despite exposure to heat up to 500 degrees Celsius. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CLEAN TECHNICA | ANTON WILLAM | KORAN TEMPO 4180]

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