Butterfly Wings as Perfect Solar Collectors

If we forget that the answers to our questions lie in the unique complexities of nature, the discovery that butterfly wings have scales that act as tiny solar collectors is a great reminder.

Scientists in China and Japan are using this discovery to design a more efficient solar cell. The study appeared in the Jan. 13th issue of ACS’ Chemistry of Materials, a bi-weekly journal.

Laboratory tests showed that the butterfly wing solar collector absorbed light more efficiently than conventional dye-sensitized cells. The fabrication process is simpler and faster than other methods, and could be used to manufacture commercially valuable devices.

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