“Tiny Pyramids” Key to Better Eyeglasses, Solar Cells

First we’ll see clearer. Then we’ll clear the way for more efficient solar cells. These are two goals being pursued right now by chemical engineers at Oregon State University. Driven by their invention of a new technology, called “nanostructure films,” the scientists aim to make eyewear, solar cells and a myriad of other light-sensitive technologies a good deal more effective and efficient.

New Eyeglasses: Cheaper Protective Coating

The nano-films reduce the reflectance of light bouncing off of a surface. For eyeglasses, it would reduce glare by capturing more light and decreasing exposure to ultraviolet light. As those of you who currently wear eyeglasses might be thinking, such coatings already exist. But this new version invented by OSU engineers has some distinct advantages.

Once fully developed, nano-films perform more efficiently at reducing glare than existing coatings, and cost less to boot. Better yet, the engineers plan to create a small device which applies the film to eyeglasses in an office setting. So vision centers could end up with a fast, cheap and less-wasteful coating for eyeglasses that could be applied within the time span of a walk-in visit.

New Film

The process for applying the film utilizes a chemical bath and is controlled by a microreactor. The bath places the extremely thin nanoscale film on glass, plastic, silicon or aluminum substrates. The result is a nanostructure that resembles “millions of tiny pyramids in a small space.” This tight conglomeration is what prevents a higher portion of incident light from reflecting off the surface, reducing glare in eyeglasses while posing some keen benefits for solar cells.

New Solar Cells?

The prospect of lower light reflectance and a higher rate of capture is obviously intriguing to the solar energy field. Solar cells equipped with these nano-films would achieve higher absorption rates and thus higher electricity yield. Admittedly, such an application is still far off for the engineers at Oregon State, but it remains an ultimate and exciting goal nevertheless.

But first to eyeglasses. The group says a patent is pending for the nano-film technology and the first commercial products could be available within a year.

Source: ScienceDaily

Posted on September 28th in Solar Products by Dan.