Nanowires can make solar panels efficient and cheaper

A research group has developed a method for making an ultra-high material efficient solar cell using semiconductor nanowires. If this is placed on top of a traditional silicon-based solar cell, it could potentially double the efficiency of today's Si solar cells at low cost.

They used Gallium arsenide material in a very effective way through nano-structuring, because of its extraordinary light absorption and electrical characteristics. It is commonly used to make solar panels

mainly for use in space.

The research group has found a new way to make an ultrahigh power-per-weight ratio solar cell that is more than 10 times more efficient than any other solar cell, by using GaAs in a nanowire structure and integrating this product on top of a Si cell.