Solar Panel Energy Related To Color Of Visible Light

Wavelength of light that hits a solar panel solar cells generate an electrical current when light hits their surface.

Solar panel energy related to color of visible light.

Why uv panels are a con job. In a step closer to skyscrapers that serve as power sources a team led by university of michigan researchers has set a new efficiency record for color neutral transparent solar cells. In his research hertz discovered that more power was created by ultraviolet light than visible light. Usually buildings with glass exteriors use a coating which not only reflects but also absorbs some light in both visible and infrared spectrums reducing brightness and heat within the structure.

Today solar cells use the photoelectric effect to convert sunlight into power. For the wavelength close to 450 nm the corresponding color would be cool white. Researchers have set a new efficiency record for color neutral transparent solar cells by achieving 8 1 efficiency and 43 3 transparency with an organic or carbon based design rather than conventional silicon. A photovoltaic cell responds selectively to light wavelengths.

As you can see cool leds have a higher spectrum irradiance which means they are better for solar. Previous transparent solar cells have light utilization efficiencies of roughly 2 3 but the indium tin oxide cell is rated at 3 5 and the silver version has a light utilization efficiency of 5. White light that we see from the sun includes all colors of the visible spectrum and ranges in wavelength from about 400 nanometers nm to about 780 nm. Those much longer than 700 nanometers lack the energy to affect the cell and simply pass through it.

Sunlight energy that reaches the ground is around 4 ultraviolet 43 visible light and 53 infrared. Generally speaking solar cells are capable of harnessing visible light for energy generation while other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum go by unnoticed including infrared. In other words cool white is the best artificial light color for solar panels. Solar panels mostly convert visible light into electrical energy and they also can make use of almost half the infrared energy.

Transparent solar panels can redirect this light to generate energy and reduce the building s load on the electric grid. But solar panels only use a small portion of ultraviolet.