Fractal solar cell array for enhanced energy production: applying rules underlying tree shape to photovoltaics.

ABSTRACT: Plants and photovoltaics share the same purpose as harvesting sunlight. Therefore, botanical studies could lead to new breakthroughs in photovoltaics. However, the basic mechanism of photosynthesis is different to semiconductor-based photovoltaics and the gap between photosynthesis and solar cells must be bridged before we can apply the botanical principles to photovoltaics. In this study, we analysed the role of the fractal structures found in plants in light harvesting based on a simplified model, rotated the structures by 90° and applied them to fractal-structured photovoltaic Si solar cell arrays. Adoption of botanically inspired fractal structures can result in solar cell arrays with omnidirectional properties, and in this case, yielded a 25% enhancement in electric energy production.

SUBMITTER: Sim YH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7426039 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature