Solar panels have had success in aiding countries to rely more on renewable energy. One of the downfalls of solar panels is that they rely heavily on direct sunlight. Chinese researchers have discovered that a one-atom layer of graphene on solar panels allowed electrical generation, even in the presence of rain.
What Is Graphene?
Derived from graphite, graphene is a type of carbon that has particular electrical abilities, as it can conduct electricity, extract lead ions, and remove dyes from liquid solutions. Water coming from the sky isn’t pure – it is mixed with dust, chemical composites, and microscopic organisms. Rainwater also consists of suspended salt, which naturally consists of negative and positive ions. Since graphene has the electric structure to absorb positive ions, it extracts the delocalized electrons. This enables the graphene to conduct and transfer energy.
White Graphene
White graphene has some advantages over other graphene – it is chemically non-reactive, anatomically smooth, and it is stronger. Unlike the conductive potential of graphene, white graphene is an insulator of electricity, making it particularly useful as an electrical foundation for solar cells.
Graphene May Offset Costs of Indium Tin Oxide
Most solar cells are made with indium tin oxide, with a protective non-conductive glass cover. Although effective, indium tin oxide is already a rare element. The rarity of indium tin oxide can potentially increase the price of solar cells, solar panels, and installation – which is already a point of frustration for many who are interested in solar energy.
Graphene And Solar Technology: Still In Its Infancy
The Ocean University of China in Qingdao were able to produce only hundreds of microvolts, augmented by a 6.53 percent efficiency when converting energy. Even though the application of graphene on solar panels is still in its initial stages, it creates the promise of solar panels that can generate power, even during precipitation. More research is being done on the chemical composition of rainwater, and how the minute amount of ions and other composites can be used to create more efficient and robust solar technologies.
Featured image by Activ Solar, available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license.
