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Monday, 25th February 2008 (6264 views)

Scientists working in Sweden have discovered that gold nanoparticles could be used to produced better - and cheaper - solar panels, allowing the clean technology to compete with fossil fuels, according to reports.

According to Juraforum, researchers at the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg found that specially-designed gold nanoparticles optimise the amount of sunlight absorbed by a solar panel and efficiently convert it into electricity.

This is because they oscillate back and forth at the same frequency as the sunlight - which means more is absorbed - and the energy captured is passed on electricity rather than heat. The more sunlight that is taken in by a solar panel, the better its electricity output will be.

Dr Carl Hagglund, who led the project, also discovered that a layer of particles only a few nanometres thick is required to improve the efficiency of a cell. Thinner cells would cut production costs, meaning panels would be cheaper to manufacture.

Dr Hagglund and his team now plan to investigate how nanoparticles can be used to further reduce the cost of solar panels to help make the sustainable energy source more competitive in the commercial market.

 

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