According to overseas media reports, one kind of 3D textures solar cells for the International Space Station next year experimental tests, the International Space Station will appear 16 times a day "sunrise", so can fully receive solar light irradiation.
It is learned that the proposal by Gioia University professor of materials science Zhu - Reddy raised, which will be studied in a 3D space environment textures solar cell performance. Currently, the Space Research Centre (CASIS) has announced plans accepted by this experiment. And this new type of solar cell is made of carbon nanotubes, whose appearance covered with a layer of light absorbing material, is expected next year will be sent to the International Space Station.
International Space Station orbiting the Earth one week every need 1.5 hours, solar panels can be accepted from any direction and angle of sunlight, which will enable Reddy and research team was able to quickly test the effectiveness of multi-duplex configuration structure. The research team will test this solar battery, which is covered with a layer of copper and zinc - tin sulfur film material; based on this 3D structure, when the sun light shines on the cell, will reach deeper internal structure, rather than the traditional flat Batteries that reflect the sun's rays.
Analysts pointed out that this 3D solar panels may be set off wave of new technology of solar cells, solar cell industry is expected to usher in a new development.
CNT will welcome development opportunities
This new space will enter the solar cell is made of carbon nanotubes, the outer covering layer of light absorbing material. Carbon nanotubes are a special structure (radial dimension of the order of nanometers, up to micron axial dimension) of a one-dimensional quantum material, a typical layer structure of a hollow, generally end caps at both ends of the tube closure. Carbon nanotubes can be only one layer, it can have multiple layers, called multi-walled carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotubes, which diameter is generally 2-20nm, the carbon nanotubes constituting the spacing between the layers is approximately 0.34nm.
Given its unique structure, carbon nanotube research has important theoretical significance and potential applications. First of all, its unique structure is an ideal one-dimensional model materials; huge aspect ratio is expected to be used to make it tough carbon fiber, its strength is 100 times that of steel, weighs only steel 1/6. Second, it is expected to be used as molecular wires, i.e. nanometer semiconductor materials, catalysts and molecular absorbent carrier and near-field emission materials. Again, the carbon nanotubes may be filled with an internal metal oxides and other substances, so that carbon nanotubes can be used as the mold, filled with a metal material such as carbon nanotubes, carbon layer and then etching away, can be prepared by the thin nano scale wires, or a new one-dimensional materials, in the future molecular electronic devices or nano-electronics devices in the applications. Furthermore, the nature of the carbon nanotubes can produce a lot of high performance composite materials.
