sci.energy

On Feb 25, 5:36=A0am, "zzbun...@"
wrote:
> On Feb 24, 8:23 pm, hab...@ (habshi) wrote:
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Scientists are now trying to design solar panels using
> > nanostructures that work like leaves, but better. The goal is 30
> > percent efficiency in converting sunlight into power - much higher
> > than the efficiency of biofuels.
>
> > "The corn organism is 3 percent efficient in harvesting the energy of
> > the sun," Ratner said. "You've got to do better than that." Miscanthus
> > grass, another source of biofuel, is less than 5 percent efficient.
>
> > While conventional solar panels made from silicon are about 18 percent
> > efficient, "the cost involved in making them is so high," he said,
> > "that they'd have to run for several years just to pay back the energy
> > cost in making them."
>
> =A0 =A0But, that's always been a non-argument, since
> =A0 =A0buildings and truck planrts have to often to work
> =A0 =A0for centuries to pay back the cost of making them.
> =A0 =A0So =A0that's why people even invested in robots.

Meaning syntho-computers actually, since the only
thing quantum idiots invest in is moron Carl Sagan music.



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> > Nanostructures, on the other hand, would use inexpensive materials to
> > capture sunlight. That's where the blue jeans and house paint come in.
>
> > In artificial photosynthesis, you need a molecule to absorb the
> > sunlight, but not any molecule will do. (See accompanying video for an
> > explanation of how photosynthesis works.)
>
> > "The molecules that we probably want to use are related to the blue
> > jean dye that you've got," Ratner said. "It's a planar molecule, it
> > has the right shape and it has the right energy properties."
>
> > The dye is called a thalocyanine and is also found in shoe polish.
>
> > Once the molecules capture solar energy, that energy must be stored
> > somewhere - otherwise, it will be given off as heat. White house paint
> > contains titanium dioxide, and when mixed with the dye molecules,
> > titanium dioxide holds on to the energy the dye collects.
>
> > Turning concept into reality
>
> > The next challenge is to develop the right kind of wire to get the
> > energy back out of the paint and dye mixture.
>
> > "Right now, that's a bottleneck," Ratner said. "Nobody's found the
> > right wire to be compatible with this whole thing."- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -