Nano-materials will boost solar power in thermophotovoltaic solar cells

The classic silicon based photovoltaic solar cells are ineffective because they do not catch a large part of solar irradiation that is located in infrared range. The infrared irradiation of the Sun passes through the classical photo cells and it is wasted. The new nano-materials based on tungsten and hafnium-dioxide are offering solutions for extremely effective thermophotovoltaic solar cells. The tungsten structures can be coated in nanolayer on the hafnium-dioxide, which significantly increases the durability and thermal resistance of solar cells. The new solar cells were able to work on temperatures as high as 2500 degrees Fahrenheit. The tungsten structure absorbed the heat from light and it was converted to electricity by thermophotovoltaic principle. Nanotechnology offers highly effective solar photo cells in this case and the output could be increased to up to 80% because the infrared part of the solar power is successfully used.