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mission:log:2014:11:28:using-nanopatterns-from-blu-ray-discs-to-boost-pv-solar-conversion-efficiency [2014/11/28 10:25] – created chronomission:log:2014:11:28:using-nanopatterns-from-blu-ray-discs-to-boost-pv-solar-conversion-efficiency [2014/12/23 10:36] (current) – [Blu-Ray nanopatterns to boost solar (PV) efficiency] chrono
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 ====== Blu-Ray nanopatterns to boost solar (PV) efficiency ====== ====== Blu-Ray nanopatterns to boost solar (PV) efficiency ======
  
-There are often reports about breakthroughs in alternative technologies and when I look, I can find charts claiming that in 2014/2015 top solar conversion efficiency is reported to be at about 45%. However, when I look harder I don't seem to find obtainable Panels above 21%. The highest grade I could get were the Mobile Technology MT-ST110 panels on the [[mission:tech:odyssey]]. +There are often reports about breakthroughs in alternative technologies and when I look, I can find charts claiming that in 2014/2015 top solar conversion efficiency is reported to be at about 45%. However, when I look harder I don't seem to find obtainable Panels above 21%. The highest grade I could get were the Mobile Technology MT-ST110 panels on the [[mission:tech:odyssey]]. I can't help but to ask myself:
  
-A couple of researchers with interdisciplinary and seemingly non-related backgrounds have come up with the concept to apply a quasi-random nano-structure to a solar (PV) cell in order to increase the absorption of photons (decrease reflection) and reported an overall broadband absorption enhancement of that solar cell to be 21.8%, when a Blu-Ray land/pit pattern is applied. +  * Where is all this technology?  
 +  * Is it not getting produced?  
 +  * Is all of it going into space/military?  
 +  * When can people expect to have access to PV-Panels with these specs?
  
-From the little info what I could get, it seems they've just tried different materials for this approach and by sheer coincidence, as it turned out, Blu-Ray's compression algorithm (tested with Jackie Chan - Police Story 3: Supercop) creates a quasi-random array of lands and pits (0s and 1s) with feature sizes between 150 and 525 nm, which seems to work quite well for light-trapping (photon management) applications over the entire solar spectrum. +{{:mission:log:2014:11:28:solar_photovoltaic_efficiency_chart.jpg|}} 
 +\\ 
 +\\ 
 +Now, a couple of researchers with interdisciplinary and seemingly non-related backgrounds published the concept to apply a quasi-random nano-structure to a solar (PV) cell in order to increase the absorption of photons (decrease reflection) and reported an overall broadband absorption enhancement of that solar cell to be 21.8%, when a Blu-Ray land/pit pattern is applied. 
  
 +From the little info publicly available, it seems they've just tried different materials for this approach and discovered that Blu-Ray's compression algorithm (tested with Jackie Chan - Police Story 3: Supercop) creates a favorable quasi-random array of lands and pits (0s and 1s) with feature sizes between 150 and 525 nm, which seems to work quite well for light-trapping (photon management) applications over the entire solar spectrum. 
  
-http://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/news/articles/2014/11/blu-ray-disc-can-be-used-to-improve-solar-cell-performance.html+[[http://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/news/articles/2014/11/blu-ray-disc-can-be-used-to-improve-solar-cell-performance.html|http://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/news/articles/2014/11/]] 
 +[[http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/194938-jackie-chan-blu-ray-disc-boosts-solar-panel-efficiency-by-a-massive-22|http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/194938]]
  
-http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/194938-jackie-chan-blu-ray-disc-boosts-solar-panel-efficiency-by-a-massive-22 +IMHO, it should be easy to use a real random number generator as a source, create some land/pit patterns following Blu-Ray specs (physical), run some tests and apply that to the production process. If it works, the sudden increase of convertible sustainable energy would be more than just considerable. 
- +
-Now, from my point, it should be fairly easy to use a real random number generator as a source, create some (linear/circular?) land/pit patterns following Blu-Ray specs (physical), run some tests and apply that to the production process. If it works, the sudden increase of convertible sustainable energy would be more than just considerable. +
  
 Let's come back here in the future and measure how long it took to get into a real product. Especially in constrained off-grid systems like Apollo-NG, with such little usable surface area, every 1% of efficiency counts for a lot. Let's come back here in the future and measure how long it took to get into a real product. Especially in constrained off-grid systems like Apollo-NG, with such little usable surface area, every 1% of efficiency counts for a lot.
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