Solar Energy

Applications in Solar Energy: Harvesting Light

Using its award-winning technology, MicroContinuum, along with its technology partners, is currently developing R2R processes for producing nano-antennas for harvesting solar infrared radiation. Such structures may have a theoretical efficiency of over 80%. Other solar applications include roll-to-roll production of low-cost concentrating and/or wavelength shifting structures and films.

Electron microscope image of master template

This flexible sheet of nanoantenna arrays, created by embossing the antenna structure and depositing a conductive metal in the pattern. Each square contains roughly 260 million antennas.

Harvesting the Sun's Energy with Antennas

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Nanoantenna Sheets Harvest Energy
(NPR, Talk of the Nation: Science Friday, broadcast Friday, August 22nd, 2008)

Traditional solar cells are able to capture only a small fraction of the energy that fall upon them. In this segment, we'll talk with the developers of flexible sheets of "nanoantennas" that could aid in getting energy from solar energy or from other heat sources. Repeating arrays of tiny gold foil loops coated on plastic sheets could harvest up to 80 percent of the infrared light that fall upon them, according to scientists involved with the project. The researchers say the material has the potential to cost just pennies a yard — though a key part of the technology, a method for storing or transmitting the generated electricity, remains to be developed. We'll find out more. (Featuring Steven Novack, Physicist and Lead Researcher on the Solar Nanoantenna Project, Idaho National Laboratory)

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