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Solar energy is abundant and free, offering a limitless resource for humanity, which relies heavily on energy for survival. Yet, even the most efficient silicon solar cells today can only convert about 25% of the sunlight into electricity. According to an article published by *The Economist*, while crystalline silicon panels remain popular due to their low cost and established technology, scientists are increasingly seeking better alternatives as fossil fuels become scarcer.
One such breakthrough comes from Dr. John Rogge at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who has developed a new type of concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) module in collaboration with Semprius, a U.S.-based PV manufacturer. This innovative design has shown impressive performance in recent tests. In fact, Semprius first made headlines in 2012 when its CPV modules achieved a record efficiency of 33.9%. At the 2014 AAAS meeting, Rogge announced that the new system reached an efficiency of 42.5%, and even after being packaged into a panel, it maintained a high 35%. With proper optimization, the efficiency could potentially reach as high as 50%.
So, what makes this technology so special? Unlike traditional solar cells, these panels use a multi-layered structure. Instead of a single semiconductor layer, four different types are stacked together. Each layer is designed to capture a specific range of the light spectrum, allowing more efficient use of sunlight. This approach overcomes the limitations of conventional solar cells, which often fail to utilize both long-wave and short-wave photons effectively.
To achieve this, Rogge uses materials with varying bandgaps—each layer is tuned to absorb different wavelengths. As a result, the system can harvest more energy from the same amount of sunlight. However, one major challenge remains: the high cost of rare materials like gallium, arsenic, and indium. To address this, Rogge's team has developed a method that reduces the amount of semiconductor material needed. Instead of coating the entire surface, they apply tiny dots—each just 1 mm² in size—across the panel. These dots are then covered with inexpensive glass lenses that focus sunlight onto them, ensuring maximum efficiency.
Another key innovation is the way the cells are manufactured. The tiny solar cells are grown on gallium arsenide wafers and then transferred to silicon substrates using a temporary coating. This process allows for mass production without wasting expensive materials.
Currently, Semprius is testing its technology in 14 locations worldwide. While large-scale production costs are still uncertain, Rogge suggests that the cost of solar power could soon become cheaper than coal. Even if it doesn’t fully replace fossil fuels, solar energy can already make a meaningful contribution, especially with government support and subsidies.
Beyond its efficiency, the new panel also offers aesthetic benefits. Compared to traditional power plants, it looks sleeker and more modern—certainly more appealing than a coal-fired station. (Reporter Zhang Mengran)