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Solar power game-changer: 'Near perfect' absorption of sunlight, from all angles

 

Nanotechnology / Materials

A new anti-reflective coating developed by researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute could help to overcome two major hurdles blocking the progress and wider use of solar power. The nanoengineered coating boosts the amount of sunlight captured by solar panels and allows those panels to absorb the entire spectrum of sunlight from any angle, regardless of the sun's position in the sky. Credit: Rensselaer/Shawn Lin

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No matter which way you look at it, the notion of harvesting energy from the sun to power our homes and businesses is more absorbing than ever.

"After a silicon surface was treated with Lin's new nanoengineered reflective coating, however, the material absorbed 96.21 percent of sunlight shone upon it — meaning that only 3.79 percent of the sunlight was reflected and unharvested. This huge gain in absorption was consistent across the entire spectrum of sunlight, from UV to visible light and infrared, and moves solar power a significant step forward toward economic viability."

Looks like Cobra Commander may be able finish the project in less than a week.