New solar panels more efficient

The photovoltaic technology has taken another step forward as researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have shown a photoelectric cell with an external quantum efficiency of more than 100% quantum dots.

The new cell uses a process called multiple exciton generation (MEG), which makes more of an electron-hole pair, or just one hole per photon absorbed, and reaches a level of 114%.

This development offers the possibility of more efficient solar panels, and the technology is capable of producing high-performance coils. Using quantum dots theoretically could increase the photocells un35% efficiency of energy conversion on the contemporary cells.

Mobile cell research was built as an anti-reflective glass "in layers covered with a thin layer of a transparent conductive layer of nanostructured zinc oxide, a layer of quantum dots of lead selenide ethanedithol and treated with hydrazine, and a thin layer of gold to the upper electrode. "

Note that this does not mean that the entire panel would have an overall efficiency of more than 100% (which would be thermodynamically impossible). The quantum efficiency just means that the number of electron-hole pairs created in the cell is greater than the number of photons that are absorbed. However, due to the advancement MEG can lead to the next generation of collectors of solar energy more efficient.