Thanks to the engineers at Australia’s National University (ANU), the idea of flying butterflies powering the future was brought to the fore. Based on the wings of the Blue Morpho Didius butterfly, the engineers have created nanostructures that could reimagine the way we control light in modern materials. The research opens up a variety of doors and presents suggestions for what innovative solar cells of the future could be like. This photovoltaic breakthrough has shocked experts everywhere.
Seeking inspiration from the blue wings of the Blue Morpho Didius butterfly
Dr. Niraj Lal and the team at Australia’s National University were able to capture the blue color of the Blue Morpho Didius butterfly without using pigment. For this, inspiration was taken from the structure of this type of butterfly’s wings. It was discovered that the butterfly’s wings contained microscopic nanostructures that reflected light with great precision. Lal and the team used the idea of microscopic nanostructures and replicated the pattern of the nanostructures or something rather similar, during experimentation.
By copying the microscopic nanostructure on the Blue Morpho Didius butterfly’s wings, it became clear to the scientists that this arrangement could be used in a variety of applications, including photovoltaics.
A photovoltaic breakthrough, rather shocking to experts
The discovery made by the team can be applied to the next generation of tandem solar cells. Researchers found that traditional panels only captured a limited amount of the sun’s energy when exposed to the sun, leaving much of the solar spectrum unused. The researchers decided it was best to create a “double-decker” solar structure. This structure featured a bottom silicon layer and a top perovskite layer.
The perovskite layer absorbed the blue, green, and ultraviolet colors of the sunlight. Other colors, such as red and orange, were to be captured by the silicon layer. The breakthrough was genius because it meant that the team was looking at the next generation of solar cells that could capture the entire solar spectrum.
A breakthrough that introduces an entirely new era in photovoltaic efficiency
The solar structure has been designed to capture the sunlight that will most likely be converted into electricity. The nanostructures, inspired by the wings of a butterfly, can direct light to the precise location for capture. During this process, reflection is minimized and absorption is maximized.
What shocked experts the most was the fact that the team’s efficiency records surpassed the efficiency records of all other photovoltaic arrangements. The findings had been documented in ACS Photonics, which was co-authored by Kevin Le, Andrew Thomson, Maureen Brauers, Tom White, and Kylie Catchpole. While the Australian team’s work is splendid, they are not the only team of researchers to look to nature and butterflies for inspiration. Europe’s solar panels also revealed an entirely new solar era due to the multicolored cells that were inspired by butterflies.
Butterflies surely can power the future and inspire other uses
The benefit of focusing on these butterflies for the future of solar cells is clear. However, the findings from this breakthrough extend beyond solar applications. The same principles could be applied to architectural glass, where windows can transmit or block certain colors, whilst regulating heat in the process. There are many more uses of this discovery, but for now, scientists have found a way to create a brighter solar future.
While a new era in photovoltaics was apparent when quantum dots destroyed solar panels, the scientists from ANU were able to set the foundation for an entirely new era of efficient solar materials. These scientists are now a step closer to discovering some of the best solutions for tomorrow’s brighter and sustainable future.
