Every time the sun shines on a solar panel, it sends a portion of infrared energy along. But up until now, solar panels did not know how to handle that infrared light. But researchers at the University of California Riverside recently discovered a coating for solar panels that allows them to use the infrared portion of the light spectrum. The coating consists of nanoparticles and organic materials, and it boosts the conversion efficiency of a solar cell by at least 30 percent. How? The researchers say these materials “upconvert” light by changing its color. And the good thing is, every time solar energy becomes cheaper and more efficient, it becomes more attractive as a substitute for fossil fuels.
This solar panel coating boosts the efficiency of a solar panel by using infrared
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