Scientists of KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) and
ZSW (Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg) have increased
the efficiency of solar cells by replicating the structure of rose petals. They
reproduced the epidermal cells of rose petals that have particularly good
antireflection properties and integrated the transparent replicas into an
organic solar cell. This has resulted in broad absorption spectrum and a
high incidence angle tolerance. These
properties are particularly pronounced in rose petals. In order to exactly
replicate the structure of these epidermal cells over a larger area, the
scientists transferred it to a mold made of polydimethylsiloxane, a
silicon-based polymer, pressed the resulting negative structure into optical
glue which was finally left to cure under UV light. The scientists then integrated the transparent replica of the
rose petal epidermis into an organic solar cell.
Details appear in the latest issue of journal Advanced
Optical Materials
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