Will Carbon Nanotubes Make Solar Cells More Efficient?
One of the basic and most expensive materials used in manufacturing solar panels is silicon. Researchers are trying to figure out ways of using something else that will be just as effective by cost a lot less. Researchers at Cornell are replacing the expensive silicon with more economical carbon nanotubes.
When comparing the current solar cells with carbon nanotubes, the solar cells lose any extra energy as heat. Conventional solar cells need cooling in order to work properly. While a lot of work still needs to be done, the team has been successful in concept and theory. AlternativeEnergyNews.com has more information on this new idea.