Developing Efficient Solar Concentrators
A new way to concentrate sunlight could make solar power competitive with fossil fuels.
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To begin making the solar concentrators, a researcher measures powdered organic dyes into small vials, where they will be mixed with solvents to make ink.
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Next, various inks are mixed together and poured onto a 10-centimeter glass sheet perched on a spin-coating machine. This is done in a sealed box, to protect the researchers from inhaling the solvent.
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When the glass is spun at 2,000 revolutions per minute, the ink spreads evenly and the solvent evaporates. The concentrator is complete and ready to be connected to solar cells.
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Solar cells in the form of thin strips are mounted inside a frame. The cells line up with the edges of the solar concentrator and convert escaping light into electricity. In this prototype, a larger solar cell underneath captures red and infrared light that passes through the glass.
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Artificial sunlight illuminates a solar concentrator attached to a single thin solar cell for testing.
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