The world is rapidly moving toward widespread adoption of solar energy in an effort to mitigate the potentially disastrous effects of climate change. However, one major impediment has been solar energy’s limited generation due to the sun’s brightness. However, in a significant breakthrough, a group of Australian researchers appears to have discovered a solution to this problem. The researchers claim to be the first in the world to demonstrate that solar power can be generated even at night.
Solar panels, as we all know, absorb direct sunlight energy and convert it to electricity. It is impossible to generate solar power when the sun is not visible, such as at night. So, while this research may appear to be a contradiction in terms, it is undeniably a significant step forward in “night-time solar” technology.
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) team took advantage of the heat generated by Earth during the night. Throughout the day, the Sun’s energy warms the Earth. Our planet emits the same amount of energy back into space at night. Because this radiated energy is emitted from the planet’s surface, there is a thermal emission that can be harnessed. The researchers have added that this radiant energy can be captured and converted into electricity by a cell device.
The team detailed how they put this theory into practice in a study published in ACS Photonics. The researchers used a thermoradiative diode (found in existing technologies such as night-vision goggles) to capture and convert photons leaving Earth along the infrared spectrum. They were able to generate power, though it was very small — roughly 100,000 times less than what a solar panel provides. They do, however, hope that the results will improve in the future.
The team described how they put this theory into practice in a study published in ACS Photonics. The researchers used a thermoradiative diode (found in existing technologies such as night-vision goggles) to capture and convert photons leaving the Earth along the infrared spectrum. They were able to generate power, though it was very small — around 100,000 times less than what a solar panel provides. However, they are hopeful that the results will improve in the future.
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