Published in New Scientist, Nov 2012
A stripped-down photovoltaic cell promises a new route to cheap solar power by making better use of the Sun’s rays, says Jon Cartwright
IF YOU want more energy from the sun, just take off a layer. Removing one of the main layers in an already-promising solar-cell technology has been found to boost its energy output. The new cells promise another route to making solar energy economical.
Whether solar cells will compete on price with fossil fuels or other renewable energy sources depends on a combination of factors, such as the efficiency with which they turn sunlight into electricity and the cost of materials and manufacturing. […]
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