Quantum Dots May Lead to Rainbow Solar Cell

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Electron transport through a structure of nanoparticles (left) and more ordered nanotubes (center) is shown. At right different wavelengths of light can be absorbed by different-sized quantum dots layered in a rainbow solar cell. Image credit: Kongka ...
Electron transport through a structure of nanoparticles (left) and more ordered nanotubes (center) is shown. At right, different wavelengths of light can be absorbed by different-sized quantum dots layered in a “rainbow” solar cell. Image credit: Kongkanand, et al. ©2008 ACS.

For the first time, researchers have created solar cells made of different-sized quantum dots, each tuned to a specific wavelength of light. By arranging these quantum dots in an ordered pattern, the scientists hope that they can one day fabricate “rainbow” solar cells, which can efficiently harvest a large part of the useful spectrum of sunlight.


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