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Stanford Researchers Develop Self-Cooling Solar Cells

Posted July 28, 2014 11:16 AM

From Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine:

Photovoltaic cells are one of the more promising alternative energy sources. Mechanically they are very simple, with no moving parts, and are clean and emission-free. Unfortunately they are also inefficient. One of the reasons for this is that they overheat, a problem that a Stanford University team under electrical engineering professor Shanhui Fan is addressing with the development of a thin glass layer that makes solar cells self-cooling.

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Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1869
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Re: Stanford Researchers Develop Self-Cooling Solar Cells

07/28/2014 12:24 PM

Whilst texturing the silica passivation layer increases heat dissipation, it also gives more opportunity (and surface area) for dirt and other forms of contamination to accumulate. What works in the lab is not always practical in the field. Better to cool PV arrays from the backside using more conventional techniques.

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