Saving Silicon in Solar Cells

摘要

Sparse arrays of silicon microwires embed-rnded in a rubbery polymer absorb as much light as the active layer in a high-performance solar cell but use just i percent as much silicon. The key to the material's efficiency is that highly reflective alumina nanopar-ticles in the polymer direct incoming sunlight toward the microwires. Computational models predict that the composite material could be made into solar cells that convert 15 to 20 percent of the energy in sunlight into electricity. This performance is close to that of the best cells on the market today.