Some researchers have now discovered that it is possible to double the number of electrons harvested from one photon of sunlight using an organic plastic semiconductor material. This means that we have a way to converse solar energy which will lead to higher efficiencies. "For one thing," said Zhu, "that 66 percent efficiency can only be achieved when highly focused sunlight is used, not just the raw sunlight that typically hits a solar panel. This creates problems when considering engineering a new material or device." Xiaoyang Zhu at The University of Texas at Austin. The silicon solar use is about 31 percent because of how the is hitting the cell is too high for usable electricity. But capturing the hot electrons may be able to increase the conversion to as high as 66 percent. The research team was spearheaded by Wai-lun Chan, a postdoctoral fellow in Zhu's group, with the help of postdoctoral fellows Manuel Ligges, Askat Jailaubekov, Loren Kaake and Luis Miaja-Avila. The research was supported by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy. This is a very exciting new discovery in science because it will allow more solar energy to be used, therefor lessening to need for gases. Which in the long run will help out with global warming by making the green house effect less of a threat. We are finding a way to save the world! :)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111215141617.htm
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