The potential of solar cells in producing eco-friendly clean energy is generating a lot of interest among researchers and they are in the process of increasing the efficiency of the solar cells.
Sarah Fobes, a researcher from Hamilton College, is presently working on a novel method to augment the efficiency of solar cells by utilizing rare earth elements. Presently, she has undertaken a project known as “Quantum Cutting to Enhance Solar Cell Efficiency” in collaboration with Ann Silversmith, Professor of Physics in Hamilton College.
The rays of the sun is described to contain photons of varied wavelengths and present day solar cells are designed to capture and make use of only limited quantity of photons during energy conversion. The research of Fobes concentrates on the use of quantum cutting in solar cells to widen their capabilities and to augment their efficiency.
The quantum cutting process utilizes certain elements such as ytterbium, a rare earth metal, to absorb the sun’s energy or energy photon, also known as a unit of sun light, and release two low-energy photons. In the process, the rare earth metal ytterbium absorbs the high-energy photon let out by terbium and releases two low-level energy photons.
For her research, Fobes utilized nano-crystals that comprise both ytterbium and terbium. The powder like substance when exposed to UV light changed the high-energy photons into low-energy photons. She utilized a sensitive instrument to focus specific wavelength of light over her samples to assess the interaction of nano-crystals with the light in a study known as spectroscopy.
Fobes is planning to utilize mathematical inferences to understand the methods to improve the efficiency gains using quantum cutting. She is optimistic to succeed in her attempts to prove that quantum cutting is a viable option to improve the efficiency of solar cells of today.