Plants use sunlight to make free electrons and then use
these free electrons to produce carbohydrates for food. Solar cells are designed to
make electric currents from the sunlight....similar jobs, but very different ways of doing
so, but why?
Solar cells produce electricity when sunlight strikes silicon coated
with various materials. Excited electrons are carried away by small conductors.
Plants use chlorophyll and an "electron trap" to accomplish what is
essentially the same task.
Researchers want to use layers of dyes related to
chlorophyll to absorb sunlight. Polymers between the layers would be used to conduct
the electricity. This coating can be done by a simple dipping technique which
eliminates the use of dangerous solvents used in current solar cell applications and will
be more environmentally friendly.
It is expected that the primary advantage to this process will be the
efficiency at which the sunlight is converted to energy. Chlorophyll is extremely
efficient while today's solar cells have fairly low efficiencies in comparison.
