Altered Organism Triples Solar Cell Efficiency 158
An anonymous reader writes "By harnessing the shells of living organisms in the sea, microscopic algae called diatoms, engineers have tripled the efficiency of experimental dye-sensitized solar cells. The diatoms were fed a diet of titanium dioxide, the main ingredient for thin film solar cells, instead of their usual meal which is silica (silicon dioxide). As a result, their shells became photovoltaic when coated with dyes. The result is a thin-film dye-sensitized solar cell that is three times more efficient than those without the diatoms."
Just had to ask... (Score:5, Funny)
So does this mean we now have to call them dye-atoms?
Don't bother throwing things...I've already taken cover.
Re:120% efficiency! (Score:5, Funny)
Wait till PETA hears about this! (Score:3, Funny)
Nasty humans exploiting those defenseless unicellular creatures!
OK... (Score:4, Funny)
Well Duh (Score:3, Funny)
Of course diatoms are going to make better solar cells. I mean just look at the name, diatom is greek for two atoms. There's twice as many atoms there, so you'd guess they would make at least twice as good solar cells.
Re:120% efficiency! (Score:5, Funny)
I got er. I just keep them loose all over the place, help yourself.
free range Hydrogen
Re:Just had to ask... (Score:3, Funny)
This sounds like a good passover joke. If they had dyed the atoms, it would have been good enough for us.
dye-atom!
Re:120% efficiency! (Score:5, Funny)
harvesting method? (Score:5, Funny)
Do the diatoms die from shock?
Re:120% efficiency! (Score:3, Funny)
..you don't get much solar energy at night...
Solution: Flip the panels over and dig a deep, deep hole..
Re:What will the Libs do? (Score:3, Funny)
Humans Who Don't Eat (Score:2, Funny)
Maybe they can do the same with humans, and we no longer need to eat: just hang out in the sun. My wife keeps telling me that I'm as lazy as a plant anyhow. Might as well go all the way.
Re:Altered ...orgasm? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:120% efficiency! (Score:1, Funny)
If the teacher was using Bush's "faith based" standards, then the students would never have been told about the 100% limit on efficiency.
Re:Just had to ask... (Score:5, Funny)
It's too bad they used Titanium instead of Lithium. We could have had DyeLithium Crystal solar power
Re:Wait till PETA hears about this! (Score:4, Funny)
Nasty humans exploiting those defenseless unicellular creatures!
We'll call them Sea Puppies! Because who would want to hurt a sea puppy?!
/In case you don't get the joke [peta.org]