“A lot of people think that shadows are useless,” says Singaporean scientist Swee Ching Tan. But his newest creation proves that “anything can be useful, even shadows.”
Solar power is a common source of renewable energy, but it needs direct sunlight. Lots of places, like cities, are too shadowy for solar panels to work. This is why Swee’s new invention is so useful.
His team took silicon, the main material in solar panels, and covered it in a super-thin layer of gold. When the panel is partly lit, electrons jump from the silicon to the gold, then travel from the bright area over to the shadow. This movement can be redirected through a circuit to create electricity.
The team has already powered a watch and a light using this gadget, which is still being tested. They’re now copying solar panels to improve how well their device captures sunlight. Once perfected, these panels could generate solar power in lots of places that currently can’t.
Lachlan Writes Science 