Sea Sponge Soaks up Sunlight
by Matthew Sparkes, London, UK on 03.26.07
Last week, we wrote a post about biomimicry, which is the process of taking qualities from living organisms and using them in design. We thought we would bring you news of a good example, courtesy of the humble sea sponge, which could lead to a more efficient method of making solar cells.
Currently solar cells are made under high temperature and low pressure, which requires a large amount of power. However, certain sea sponges are capable of forming silicon structures without these energy-intensive conditions. By mimicking this process, and replacing the silicon with zinc oxide, scientists have succeeded in creating primitive, but cheap solar cells.
Reducing the energy required to make solar cells will lower production and sale costs, and make them a viable option for more applications. It could also bring us nearer to a possible tipping point for solar power, where increased adoption and economies of scale cause a break into the mainstream. Related: ::Solar Category
Great Post- Combine the low temperature manufacturing process, with biomimic dye integration (via Dyesol) and you are talking about creating a nanoscale solar cell, for incredibly cheap prices, and easy recycling.
Yes, because humans are so good at copying photosynthesis...
Unbelieva-bubble.
Go Nanosolar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nicely done...but really human can just copying..because really God is the almighty who created anything Perfectly...
TheKnights, you might like "Candide" by Voltaire.
This is promising.. I'm currently making a solar array from cosmetically defective solar cells, which are cheaper regular ones, but still expensive.
Quick question -- would recycled-metal built Stirling solar concentrators produce more power for less environmental damage than solar panels?
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