Genetically Modified Virus Improves Solar Cell Efficiency With Carbon Nanotubes

Star cells are about to get cheaper! Using a genetically modified virus called M13, researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology were able to make carbon nanotubes self-foregather allowing the solar cells to collect electrons at a more efficient rate. Scientists already know that single-walled carbon nanotubes have a high negatron mobility, signification that electrons can move through them real fast. Using this knowledge, researchers could in theory improve the efficiency of photovoltaic devices (care star panels) using these nanotubes.

Simply at that place is matchless trouble–carbon nanotubes, when they are formed, usually come in a mix of two types: Some of them act like semiconductors and some of them human action like metals. If you know your chemistry, then you know that conductivity increases in metals when the temperature decreases, while conductivity actually increases in semiconductors atomic number 3 temperature increases (to a certain point, anyway). Because of this, the two types of nanotubes basically cancel each other out, making them less good as a means of increasing photovoltaic cell efficiency.

The MIT researchers came up with a way to separate the two types so that they might be applied to a photovoltaic cell more in effect. The researchers used the M13 computer virus to rearange the carbon nanotubes on a surface. The virus also kept the tubes separated thusly they don't cause circuits to, well, short-circuit.

You interpret that correctly. A virus rearranged the nanotubes. According to MIT, using this new process increased the solar cells' efficiency by almost incomparable third. Impressive! Sound out Nature and MIT for the full details.

[MIT and Nature via Engadget / Photo: Magoo0311 on Flickr (CC-BY 2.0)]

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