More Efficient Solar Cells

Christina Thompson (Anchor, EarthxNews): Researchers at the Julius-Maximilians-University in Germany have designed a new process for light harvesting.

Their prototype system named URPB converts sunlight into electricity or other forms of energy more efficiently. The system converted 38% of incident light into fluorescents, a significant leap compared to other systems today.

The researchers said they were inspired by naturally occurring systems like plants which use a combination of organic dyes to absorb a broad spectrum light for photosynthesis. The university attempted to replicate the arrangement of those dyes hence the name—URPB, ultraviolet, red, purple, and blue—the four light wavelengths that can now be effectively absorbed by the system.