Let the sun board work in a rainy day
Solar energy, as the name suggests, is to transform sunlight and heat into energy and to operate under sunlight. But the Institute of nanoscience and technology at Soochow University has broken this restriction to develop a new hybrid solar panel, combined with solar panels and nano friction generators (TENGs), to allow solar panels to generate electricity on both sunny and rainy days.
The nano friction generator (TENGs) is based on the principle of friction lifting, allowing two different objects to be rubbed with each other, so that the charge can be transferred to energy and form a voltage. And because the friction power can be used in the conductor and the insulator, the common things in life such as clothes, tires and paper can be used as the electrical materials.
So the team wants to make use of the frictional kinetic energy between raindrop and solar energy to generate electricity, and further design a better energy harvesting system. In the past, there were also studies that wanted to make good use of rainwater friction, but the equipment manufactured was often complicated and bulky.
Researchers at Soochow University have two layers of transparent polymers on solar panels, which are poly - two - methyl siloxane (Polydimethylsiloxane) and conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS. The upper layer of poly (two methylsiloxane) is one of the frictional materials. The PEDOT:PSS layer below is the common electrode of the solar panel and the nano friction generator. The polymer can not only reduce the light reflection, but also enhance the efficiency of the power generation.
When it starts to rain, the nano friction generator will start to operate, and the PEDOT:PSS material will be responsible for transmitting electricity to the solar panel, and the two layers of polymer are transparent, and still can get energy from the sun in sunny days.
According to the data, the short circuit current of the equipment is 33nA and the open circuit voltage is 2.14V, although the value is not high, it proves that the concept can be practical and can be studied continuously. The team said that the new device has more advantages than the previous TENGs solar panels, which is simpler in design, smaller in size and easier to make.
