Two twists on traditional technologies dramatically improved the efficiency of solar cells and window coatings in recent tests, paving the way for better energy generation and savings. Engineers at the University of Minnesota created a layered design for dye-sensitized solar cells, a titanium dioxide-based cell that is less expensive than traditional silicon cells and-boosts efficiency by up to 26%. Current designs for the dye-sensitized cells are only about 10% efficient because the materials don't easily absorb infrared light. The researchers' new design sends light ricocheting through multiple layers of microscopic spheres, increasing its path and allowing it to convert more of the electromagnetic spectrum into electricity. This strategy can easily be integrated into current commercial solar cell designs, the researchers say.
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