Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar efficiency

Re:Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar ... by reaperducer on Friday August 09, 2019 @05:44PM (#20658458)

This heats up the nanotubes, which then emit visible photons, which then increase electricity generation

Once a solar cell is built with this technology, do you think there will be enough light emitted by the nanotubes to make the solar panels appear to glow, themselves? Because that would be pretty interesting.

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Re:Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar ... by skosch on Friday August 09, 2019 @10:10PM (#20659732)

The idea is to direct all of the nanotube-emitted light onto the PV cells, so hopefully you won't see anything. Citing the Rice article:

> Because electrons in nanotubes can only travel in one direction, the aligned films are metallic in that direction while insulating in the perpendicular direction, an effect Naik called hyperbolic dispersion. Thermal photons can strike the film from any direction, but can only leave via one.

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Re:Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar ... by dlivingston on Friday August 09, 2019 @05:55PM (#20658523)

If the solar panels appear glowing, it's because visible light is being dispersed away from the solar panel itself. The consequence of that would be wasted photons that could otherwise be converted into electricity.

So, from a pragmatic perspective, I would say that no, they wouldn't glow - proper engineering would ensure these particles are collected.

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