How to make more durable, more efficient self-cooled solar cells? The answer is to add a thin layer of glass surface. Solar cells converting solar radiation into electrical energy, and have a lot of energy loss in the process. Among them, solar battery overheating will cause amazing energy consumption. In the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the battery limits at the same time, overheating will reduce battery life.

Stanford University researchers will be embedded with tiny conical and pyramid-like structure of a thin layer of quartz glass covering the surface of the silicon solar cell. They find that it can significantly reduce the operating temperature of the battery, thereby weakening the "overheating" effect. The researchers found that this layer of rugged quartz glass can reflect excess heat radiation. By eliminating excess infrared radiation, the solar cell can be maintained at an appropriate temperature, improving the photoelectric conversion efficiency. If the temperature rises, the open circuit voltage will drop sharply, which would reduce the PV performance. At a time when the current will rise slightly, but with reduced efficiency compared to still insufficient for the Road.

Studies have shown that the upper limit of a single silicon solar cell energy conversion efficiency of 33.7%. Celsius temperature rise once each solar cell efficiency will decline 0.5%. The energy efficiency of the battery decreases with increasing temperature, which is similar in the different types of solar cells. Currently, a number of proactive approach to cooling the battery, such as ventilation or using a liquid coolant, there are more than problems cost benefits, still can not solve the problem of overheating of energy loss. The findings may help to develop higher efficiency solar cells.

More efficient solar cells could be a strong contender for one of the future instead of fossil fuels. This rugged glass surface works use light of different wavelengths of solar radiation inside. In the spectrum of visible light to carry more energy, and infrared light is to carry more heat. The researchers calculated show that the quartz glass surface in reflected infrared light while the battery will not affect the absorption of visible light. They contain tiny silicon pyramid glass surface with solar cells in combination, or both will be directly integrated to maximize cooling of the solar cell. Suitable working temperature can significantly increase battery life, it also reduces the cost from the other side.

But the scientific community have different voices that although this study has a solid theoretical foundation, but maybe not so easy in practice. However, researchers have begun to study the practical application of the outcomes. They "validate the design through the accurate numerical methods, and are trying to prove through experiments their first prototype feasibility.