University of Groningen team details new solar panel heat trapping method
Researchers at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands have detailed a new method to trap heat in solar panels for significantly longer periods.
Previous energy conversion limits faced
A long-standing physics theory suggests solar panels can only convert a maximum of 33 percent of sunlight into electricity. The most energetic photons create super-charged hot electrons that usually cool down too quickly to capture their energy as heat.
New tin-based material properties found
Scientists analyzed a promising new tin-based solar panel material that keeps heat from these hot electrons trapped for around 1,000 times longer. Computer simulations and experimental measurements were used to understand the key properties of this specific material.
Competing ideas about mechanism exist
There have been competing ideas regarding the exact mechanism that makes this heat trapping possible. Understanding these properties will help scientists build on previous studies reporting improvements in energy production.
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