What's New(s) in Science: 3D solar cells

Take a trip back to seventh grade; a time when you and your friends were discovering a world of hormones, peer pressure, and a competition to become popular.  You were focusing on the social aspects of middle school.  Most of you were not thinking about alternative energy and how to efficiently use the sun as a means of electrical power.  William Yuan, however, was well on his way to a scientific discovery of just that.

Twelve year-old William Yuan from Beaverton, Oregon spent the past two years of his life studying the concept of 3D solar cells created by researchers of Georgia Tech.  3D solar cells are a fairly new concept in science.  In comparison to 2D cells, the 3D design absorbs 500 times more visible light as well as UV light.  These solar cells contain miniscule “towers” or “skyscrapers.”  It is between these towers that the PV cells trap and absorb light.  When photons hit the PV cells, electrons are released and carried through the PV coating, creating an electrical charge.  Because of the 3D design of these cells, light can be absorbed from many different angles, meaning that even on the cloudiest day in which the sun’s rays are scattered, the 3D solar cell can fully absorb the sun’s light.  William Yuan has made additional improvements upon the design created by the researchers at Georgia Tech.  With his advancements, William was given a $25,000 scholarship.

            So while every other student in the seventh grade is wondering who is the latest subject of talk around school, William Yuan is wondering which manufacturer he should choose to build a prototype of his 3D solar cell design.  At the young age of twelve, it appears that William is well on his way to a bright and successful future.

Work Cited

“3D Solar Cells Make Trackers Obsolete.”  Treehugger.  13 April 2007.  26 September 2008 <http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/04/3d_solar_cells.php>.

  Lent, Christina.  “Seventh-grader shines with solar cell research.”  Beaverton Valley Times.  16 September 2008.  27 September 2008.  <http://www.beavertonvalleytimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=122109656865633500>. 

  “Nano-Manhattan: 3D Solar Cells Boost Efficiency While Reducing Size, Weight and Complexity of Photovoltaic Arrays.”  Georgia Tech Research News.  11 April 2007.  26 September 2008. <http://gtresearchnews.gatech.edu/newsrelease/3d-solar.htm>.

 

  Schwartz, Ariel.  “12 Year Old Boy Invents New Type of Solar Cell.”  Clean Technica.  17 September 2008.  27 September 2008.  <http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/17/12-year-old-boy-invents-new-type-of-solar-cell/comment-page-3/>.

   “William Yuan, a 12 year-old, Invented New Type of 3D Solar Cell.”  The Green Optimistic.  18 September 2008.  27 September 2008.  <http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2008/09/18/william-yuan-3d-solar-cell/>.