Flexible Solar Nanoantenna

By: EconomyWatch   Date: 30 April 2010

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Solar Nanoantenna Array Research

The recent discovery of the flexible solar nanoantenna could prove highly useful for a variety of applications, such as cooling devices in buildings. Meanwhile, scientists continue to experiment with improved techniques and quality in its production.

In August 2008, researchers devised an innovative concept known as a flexible nanoantenna array, which captures infrared radiations emitted by the sun and other energy sources.

A nanoantenna is typically a conducting material that can easily be stamped into a sheet of treated polyethylene. The size of a single nanoantenna is almost 1/25 the diameter of human hair. The nanoantenna has the potential to change the current waste of heat from buildings and electronics. This is because it has the capacity to function as a cooling device while drawing wasted heat from buildings or electronics sans electricity.

The nanotechnology-based solar antenna was developed at the US Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory. The scientists developed technologies for imprinting millions of nanoantennas on a large number of flexible materials.

On studying a varied range of materials, such as gold, copper and manganese, researchers demonstrated that nanoanetennas have the capacity to harness up to 92% of energy at infrared wavelengths. Based on this understanding, researchers have created real life prototypes.

Through this technology, it is possible to tap energy via invisible mid-infrared radiations, which are soaked and released by the earth during the day. This remedies the main disadvantage of conventional solar cells which fail to utilize solar heat properly and remain idle during the night.

Unlike the conventional solar cells, nanoantennas can be used in the dark. This is attributable to the fact that they possess the capacity to capture sunlight and the energy rich infrared radiations of the electromagnetic spectrum, which prevails even after sunset. However, researchers are still working on devising methods for converting the energy captured by these nanoantennas into usable electric energy.

As nanoantennas work on the principle of capturing energy from the infrared spectrum of the sunlight, researchers have come up with a six-inch circular stamp, each of which will hold more than ten million antennas. The revolutionary ‘stamp and repeat’ process has enabled stamping the nanoantennas on flexible materials like plastic. This allows the nanoantennas to function as energy harvesters.

Researchers expect solar nanoantennas to emerge as a more efficient and sustainable alternative to conventional solar panels. It is also estimated that individual nanoantennas will be able to absorb nearly 80% of the energy that is currently available.

In the coming years, the growth of solar nanoantennas will be phenomenal as scientists continue to come up with better techniques for its production and optimum usage.


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