Roadblocks

So like any great innovation there are always some sort of drawbacks. For cell phones its battery life and signal strength, for cars its gas mileage, for solar panels its the storage space. After the solar panels collect energy and convert it to electricity, their needs to be a holding cell for this energy. These holding cells are what we refer to as solar cells. The biggest issue that engineers run into is the material that these solar cells are made out of. In the past, there have been catastrophic meltdowns because the material the cells were made out of were not able to remain in a steady state. An article from the Science Daily website titled, "New materials for more powerful solar cells" claim that if you line these solar cells with "a thin film of metallic oxide" you can increase the performance of the solar panel cells. This practice was discovered by Professor Federico Rosei at the Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Research Centre at Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS). This new material is a mix between bismuth, iron, chromium, and oxygen (INRS, 2014).

Now these solar cells really are not that complicated. When sunlight hits off of the negative electrode (which is the part that absorbs the solar energy), the energy is then transformed from solar to electrical energy by the two types of semi conductors that separate the ions from positive to negative. Then the two plates are given wires or a path way out so that electric current can flow from the semiconducting plates out to the intended recipient. What Professor Rosei wants to do is cover the semiconductors with a thin film of this new material. With the material applies, more energy will be able to be stored with an increase in efficiency and a decreased chance for catastrophic failure. This will also be able to lessen the amount of space needed to store this energy. On a large scale, these solar cells can become massive, but if the technology exists to store more with less, then we are one step closer to making this idea a reality for all to enjoy.

At George Mason University, the faculty and staff are always lo;king for new was to bring innovation to campus. One way that I came up with are these solar panels. If we implemented these panels on our sidewalks, we can make this a much safer campus. In the winter the heated panels will decrease the need for shoveling snow and will not allow for ice to set in. At night the sidewalks would be lit so that you can see where you are going and not have to worry about where you should walk. And instead of having those large inconvenient poles, all you would need is the walkway. With this technology of creating smaller more efficient solar cells, we will soon be able to bring these panels to George Mason. Not only will it be cleaner, but it will more cost effective. The LED lit panels will be run from the energy stored over the course of time. Every sidewalk and walkway will be converted so that there is maximum coverage and more energy can be stored. This idea is only a few years away from being one of the best innovations of the 21st century.

Resources:

INRS. (2014, November 12). New materials for more powerful solar cells.ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 16, 2014 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141112093150.htm

Brusaw, S. (2014, January 1). Introduction to Solar Panel Roadways. Retrieved November 16, 2014, from http://www.solarroadways.com/intro.shtml