Sunlight Spectrum

By Christina B. Farnsworth. Newly discovered properties of an overlooked alloy promise vastly less expensive, more durable, two to three times as efficient, and easier-to-produce solar cells. The discovery is by researchers at the Materials Sciences Division of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, working with crystal-growing teams at Cornell University and Japan’s Ritsumeikan University. Solar cells made from it will be able to convert the full spectrum of sunlight, from infrared to ultraviolet, to electrical current–truly producing more current for the buck.