Silicon and Sun

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• Biomimetics and Solar Cell Research Biomimetics on 11/08/2006 at 1:23 PM

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  Interestingly, sea sponges are not the only species inspiring solar cell development. Work done at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Freiberg Germany has shown that the particular nanoscale surface structure of moth eyes, when mimicked and applied as a coating to solar cells, has improved their performance by up to 10%. These biomimetic ‘moth-eye’ structures reduce the reflection of light falling on the solar cell surface even at grazing angles of incidence. Similar moth-eye coatings are being applied to architectural glass and electronic displays to reduce glare and reflection. Rate this comment: (Reply)

• MimeticWaste Flip on 11/09/2006 at 9:19 AM

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  This is brilliant work, no doubt.  Perhaps someone is already, or could start, looking at ways of mimicing biopolymers such as those found in the squid pen to create a class of plastics that nature can easily digest.  There have been several studies showing that 'plastic dust', the result of the mechanical breakdown of larger pieces is proliferating in the marine waters, rivalling plankton in density in some areas, and entering the marine food web at the particle level.  Most of the solar cells I have seen are supported by some sort of plastic.  If we could house our silicteins and moth's eyes, as well as lots of other tech, housing, and clothing products, in mass produced 'biomer' frames we might have a nice example of cradle to death bio-engineering.  Post-use considerations need to be an integral part of all R and D, as crucial as efficiency and the availability of raw materials.  We need to keep sight of not only the usefulness of new technologies, but also the life-after-death of everything we make, especially when the product is one of those that billions of individual humans may someday put to good use. Rate this comment: (Reply)