Dec 12th, 2009
GreenNews:- Nanotech Breakthrough: Self-Cleaning Solar Panels
Solar panels may have just become more low maintenance. While conducting research on a cure forl Alzheimer’s, scientists at Tel Aviv University ended up with a nanotech breakthrough that could mean no more worrying about keeping solar panels clean – they can clean themselves!
The researchers were conducting experiments on ways to control peptide atoms and molecules (Alzheimer’s sufferers have a particular peptide found in the plaques that form in their brains) and they found a way to get peptides to self-assemble in a vacuum. The resulting arrangement of peptides acts as a dust- and water-repelling coating.
Not only can the coating keep solar panels clear from debris, but it also could be used as a supercapacitor, meaning better lithium batteries. Two boosts to clean tech with one discovery!
If that’s not enough, drug company Merck is funding continued Alzheimer’s research at Tel Aviv University. You can check out the abstract of the groups findings in Nature Nanotechnology.
via Discovery News
By Megan Treacy
Found on the net by our Green News Bot.