Sep 7 2010
Emulating the efforts of the plants in converting light into energy, a team of scientists from MIT deemed to have produced a synthetic chloroplast that can be separated and reassembled a number of times to repair the sun dented solar cells.
The researchers have found that the leaves of a tree counter the destructive effects of the direct sun quickly by reprocessing their proteins every 45 minutes. The quick repair process enables the plants to take maximum advantage of solar energy without actually loosing their energy conversion efficiency.
For the purpose of simulating the process, the scientists at MIT introduced a fresh set of self assembling molecules that take advantage of photons to vibrate electrons loose in the form of electricity. The total system comprises seven assorted mixes including carbon nanotubes that offer the required structure and a way to transfer electricity away from the cells, artificial phospholipids that form discs to provide structural support and other molecules that self-enter into reaction centers to interact with the entering photons and discharge electrons. The compounds under certain terms join together into regular constructions to reap solar power. When a surfactant is used the structures split into a solution containing phospholipids, nanotubes and other essential molecules. When the surfactant is removed by forcing the solution through a membrane cover, the elements once again become active and assemble to work as revitalized solar cells and remain undamaged due to their previous contact with the sun light.
Currently the cells work with nearly 40% conversion efficiency and the researchers believe that with some more adaptations they can increase the conversion efficiency. The technology if proved viable will maintain the power conversion efficiency of the solar cells for ever.
Source: http://web.mit.edu/