Ultrathin Solar Film Traps Photons

Apr-27-14 A new, ultrathin solar film works like a "hall of mirrors" to trap photons for as long as possible—ensuring the light spends more time within the solar cell.

One way to maximize solar cell efficiency is to maximize the numbers of collisions between the photons and electrons. To encourage the photons to stick around and spend "more quality time" inside the solar cell, the team built a nanoscale-sized structure that ensnares the photons before they can slip past the ultrathin material. This innovation has allowed the team to create a working solar cell that can be cut with scissors, though the team still has more work to do before they can consider bringing the cell to market.

More Info about this Invention:

[DISCOVERY.COM]
[STANFORD]

---