The technology will help solar power generators to generate electricity in rainy regions. (image: Korea Bizwire)
POHANG, Mar. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — A South Korean research team has developed a new device that can maximize the efficiency of solar power generation even on cloudy or rainy days.
The researchers from Pohang University of Science and Technology, the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials and Kyung Hee University developed a new technology that adds anti-reflection, self-cleaning glass to the solar panel to create triboelectricity.
Solar power generation is known to drop by as much as 40 percent in efficiency on cloudy or rainy days.
The research team was inspired by the eye of the moth, known for its outstanding capability to absorb light.
An anti-reflection, self-cleaning glass covered with nano-sized particles, designed as if to imitate the structure of a moth’s eye, prevented sunlight from being reflected off from the solar panel, allowing the generator to collect more light.
In addition, raindrops that flow down along the nano-sized particles add pressure to the surface, creating triboelectricity.
The research team was able to stabilize the machine that collects energy from triboelectricity, using a switch-based circuit to control the timeframe of sending electricity to increase overall energy production.
This technology will help solar power generators to generate electricity in rainy regions, the team said.
The study was published in the March edition of Nano Energy.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
