Copenhagen (Denmark) - Martin Aagesen, a PhD from the Nano-Science Center at the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen, discovered a new, untried material, called silicium.  He describes it as "a perfect crystalline structure".  The new material has the ability to absorb all light, and he claims it could become "the perfect solar cell".  According to early reports, 30% efficiencies seem well within reach, though there are very few details in his findings.


Aagesen is not revealing a lot of details about his discovery, other than the name of the material, silicium, and that the material is inexpensive to produce.  The entire press release is only five paragraphs long.  Still, he does indicate the material could "revoluionise the transformation of solar energy into electricity," making it a viable solution for ordinary households.

Today, less than 1% of the world's electricity comes from the sun in the form of solar energy.  This is due primarily to the expense associated with a relatively low-return-on-investment technology like solar.  For certain applications, expensive solar cells can be a desirable solution.  Stand-alone devices which do not need to be up 100% of the time, or can have enough battery backup to make it through two or three days without the sun, are the target.

Commercial solar applications are always questionable because, as with wind and other periodic energy sources, their output is not constant.  With wind farms, when the wind speed slows down there is a significant reduction in output.  If an a region is relying upon that power from the wind farm, then it must also be recognized that there are times when the wind farm could be producing almost no electricity.  The region must also go ahead then and built a large enough capacity conventional system, either coal fired or a nuclear plant, to provide 100% of the area's needs.  And at this point, cost becomes a factor because not only are you building sufficient capacity for the region, but also capacity above and beyond when the full wind or solar system is considered.

Solar does have advantages over wind, however, in that during the evening hours there is a considerably lower demand for electricity.

The original article was published on December 5, 2007.  There is a fee-based Nature article that can be purchased for $18.  Aagesen's company, called SunFlake, Inc., is currently pursuing development of the solar cell.


Author's opinion
Just once I'd like to read about something potentially revolutionary like this in the following context:  Today, Martin Aagesen released for free to the world a complete set of instructions on how to make a revolutionary form of solar cells right in your own garage.  Within the pages of a 457 page PDF file widely disseminated this morning, is everything even the most inept beginner would need to know on how to construct this power source.  Yes, it is unlikely this genie can be put back in the bottle.  Soon, people everywhere, with materials they can purchase at their local hardware store, will have easy access to a clean, renewable form of energy.  Already there are scientists at various universities who have confirmed the process works.  It seems Aagesen has released unto the world a free bonanza of energy!  It is this author's opinion that Aagesen should be sent a check for $50 from every American who ends up using it.  Let's have some voluntary compliance for something given to us voluntarily.  Let's show the big energy corporate interests that giving is what it's all about.

Will it ever happen?  I envision my mother coming in at any moment and saying "Wake up, Rick.  It's time for school."  Dare to dream, Rick.  Dare to dream...

I couldnt

Dec 18, 2007 14:51     

have said it better
Harry report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

low cost to make and absorbs more

Dec 18, 2007 15:08     

It sounds like it would be a big boost for solar power. The low cost to make it will make it more appealling to more poeple.
TomLeeM/BigWarpGuy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Almost sounds too good to be true...

Dec 18, 2007 15:48     

I am currently skeptical. It just sounds too good to be true. The price of solar cells really is the reason they aren't largely used. Price per watt ratio is just too low. Increase the ratio and solar cells become extremely economical...
Paul Wowk report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Will wait for this scientist's peer review

Dec 18, 2007 18:34     

I'll believe it when other scientists review his work and are able to reproduce his results.
DW report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Dare to dream

Dec 18, 2007 20:42     

Dear Sir, I can see how this product COULD work. Apparently there is enough surface area exposed to solar radiation (via nanotubule Y-axis array)to enable such claims to be viable. Another method would be to mix mc-Si with C60 in a very high tempurature environment, thus adhering the energy generating mc-Si onto the Fullerene nanotubules. This would give a similarly HUGE surface area (nanotubule "forest")for the solar radiation to energize the mc-Si. If adhesion becomes a problem, using an electrostatic discharge (powder coating) system in addition to one of NASA's polyimides such as LaRC-Si or similar would produce sufficient adhesion once everything has been heated to the necessary temperature of adhesion. If anyone would like to work on a project like this and has the necessary funding to do so, contact me - I think it can be done more efficiently and inexpensively...

Dr. Richard K. Clingempeel report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Get with the program

Dec 19, 2007 04:07     

Solar power is ideally suited for private use. Everybody with a house should have at least 4 square meters to spare on the roof. With a good buy from-and-sell-to power grid schema in place it should really make a difference. And if everybody has a big battery/capacitor at home then utility companies will probably end up just having to provide power to industry. Energy efficiency private power generation = gold

yada report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

So what is it hitting now? 2%? 20%? [Pretty sure i...

Dec 19, 2007 16:07     

So what is it hitting now? 2%? 20%? [Pretty sure it's just theoretical in the laboratory. Most of these stories with such revolutionary claims are in their infancy, always 5 years out until real product. -Rick] Solar power closed loop fuel cells can equal complete independence from the grid. Use the solars to crack water into h2 and 02, use the fuel cells to turn that into electricity and water, run the water back through the solar cell, etc. Other energy storage schemes (including just plain old batters) are viable. Example: In the UK there are several hydro power facilities where they pump water up at night when power is low demand, then run the water through the turbines during the day to meet peak demand. This could be combined with solar/wind to store power. There is also a much lower ecological impact than traditional hydro power as you're not messing with rivers. I'm sure others will have more ideas. Rick, you won't see your dream come true. Most scientists looking at these kinds of things are either working on grants from somewhere that owns the IP, or are intending to sell it to someone. There's little altruism out there. [In that case, what I'd like to see is this: "Today, Mr. Smith is being carted off to jail to begin serving his 70-year term for violating the terms of his contracts and non-disclosure agreements with The Very Big Corporation, when he released unto the world a free form of independent energy..." -Rick]

Jim L report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Links to the 457 pages pdf?

Dec 20, 2007 04:06     

I can't seem to find it by googling around..any links to it? Thanks! [Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck. Always a wise guy. :) -Rick]
Luke report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0