Thanks to the nocturnal creature’s millions of years of evolution, it’s eyes have adapted to let in as much light as possible, enabling it to see in the dark. When the same principle was applied to a solar panel, the researchers say that it has increased light absorption by 90%. Nocturnal animals, such as the moth, have microscopic patterns in their eyes.
These patterns gather the small amount of light and concentrate it to the centre of their eye, allowing them to see more clearly.
The ‘solar wallpaper’ created by the researchers would be used to gather dim, ambient light, and channel it to harvest the energy. This means that unlike conventional solar panels, that have to absorb bright light, directly from the sun, these can absorb light from almost any source. Thanks to its transparency, this solar panel could even be used in windows.
The solar panel is possible thanks to graphene, a material that is unique due to its ultra-thin yet flexible and durable characteristics. It is also conductive, meaning it is able to transfer the electrical energy that is harvested