Night Time Solar Cell

Researchers may have found a way to balance availability of solar power over the day-night cycle using a specially designed solar cell that can generate power at night.

A conventional solar cell absorbs energy in the form of sunlight because it is cool in comparison to the sun. This energy generates a voltage across the cell through which current can flow. Another type of device – known as a thermoradiative cell – works just the opposite. When pointed toward the night sky, it will radiate energy in the form of heat because it is cooler than space. This flow of energy creates a voltage and current in the opposite direction, but still generates power.

The recently developed photovoltaic cell can generate up to 50 watts per square meter, which is about one-fourth of the power that is generated by a solar panel during the day. The principal can also be applied to drawing heat away from buildings during the hot summer months or to capture waste heat from engines.

For information: Jeremy Munday, University of California Davis, Electrical and Computer Engineering, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616; phone: 530-754-0872; email: jnmunday@ucdavis.edu; Web site: https://mundaylab.com/ or https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/anti-solar-cells-photovoltaic-cell-works-night/