Solar Cell Efficiency Boosted With A Virus

Through harnessing viruses as workers, MIT researchers have developed a method of improving the conversion efficiency of solar cells. While the incorporation of tiny carbon nanotubes in a solar cell's structure can improve the cell's power conversion efficiency, arranging the nanotubes appropriately has been quite a challenge due to varying nanotube properties and the tendency for them to bundle together.

Using a genetically engineered version of a virus called M13, the researchers found the arrangement of the nanotubes can be controlled to ensure circuits aren't shorted out and the tubes don't clump together. The result is a power conversion efficiency improvement of around a third, while only increasing the cell's weight by a tenth of a percent.

Source: Renewable Energy News