Recently, scientists in Asia have made a huge discovery and butterflies are to thank for that. Discoveries on butterfly wings show that some microstructures on the wings’ surface are effective solar collectors, or scales with the ability to collect solar energy. This discovery has led scientists to design a prototype for a more proficient solar cell that can be used for powering homes and business.

Chinese and Japanese scientists were searching for new materials to improve light harvesting in the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC), also known as the photoelectrochemical Gratzel Cell for inventor Dr. Michael Gratzel.

Over the years, there have been many attempts directed toward improving the efficiency of the cell by developing new dyes, suppressing charge recombination, or improving the properties of photoanodes in the cells.

On their journey to find new materials and improve efficiency, the scientists emulated the microscopic solar scales on butterfly wings and created a template. Using the template, they made copies of the solar collectors and transferred the light harvesting structures to Gratzel cells.

Tests, reported in the Chemistry of Materials journal, revealed that the “butterfly wing solar collector absorbed light more efficiently than conventional dye-sensitized cells.” They’re easier and faster to make than other methods and it’s more efficient.

The conclusions drawn from the research and testing of this new material suggest this process could lead to more economical and efficient solar cells in the near future.

More on this subject from Chemistry of Materials journal

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Posted on February 26th in Solar News by Beth.