Rock Music Gives Solar Cells Good Vibrations

Rock Music Gives Solar Cells Good Vibrations
Nov-10-13
Researchers have discovered an unexpected use for rock and pop music by taking advantage of their high frequency sounds to improve the efficiency of low-cost solar cells.

To develop their music-loving solar cells, a team from Queen Mary University grew billions of zinc oxide nanorods and coated them with an active polymer that enabled the device to convert sunlight into electricity. Zinc oxide is a piezoelectric material, generating a current when flexed, and the tiny, upright hairs of the zinc oxide nanorods bent and twisted when exposed to the high-frequency sounds of rock and pop. As little as 75 decibels of sound was enough to produce 40 percent more power, which is about the same level as the noise near a busy highway or an office printer.

The technology could be used power devices that are regularly exposed to sound vibrations, such as air conditioners and devices within vehicles.



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