Scientists make quantum leap in solar power.

• Author: Beidel, Eric
• Position: Defense Technology Newswire

In its quest for alternative sources of power, the military has been turning to solar panels. The services have been trying them out on installations and on the backs of troops.

Researchers at the University of Buffalo are hoping to significantly increase the amount of sunlight that solar cells can convert into electricity.

Working with the Army Research Laboratory and Air Force Office of Scientific Research, University of Buffalo engineers have shown that embedding charged quantum dots into solar cells could improve electrical output by enabling them to harvest infrared light and increasing the lifespan of photoelectrons. The technology can be applied to many different photovoltaic structures and could increase the efficiency of the cells by up to 45 percent, researchers say. The quantum dots...