Comments on: Nanoantenna Arrays Seen As Possible Solar Cell Replacement

By: Ramsey Frist

Ramsey Frist — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:53:00 +0000

If they succeed in getting this system to work think how strange things would be. Everything at temperatures over absolute zero emits some black body infrared radiation. In the winter just put some of these magic antennas outside in the snow and use the power to run an electric space heater in the house. It would usher in a new world with new physical laws. You would be able to use the same energy over an over, heat to electricity and back to heat after turning a motor or lighting a lamp.

How did they ever get funding for such a boondoggle?

By: Ramsey Frist

Ramsey Frist — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:53:00 +0000

How did they ever get funding for such a boondoggle?

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:51:15 +0000

I bet this array could be made even more useful with a black quartz filter. The quartz turns UV and some visible light into IR. If it works, then there would be more IR to absorb. Now they just need to figure out how to utilize it.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:51:00 +0000

By: Brad

Brad — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:53:08 +0000

Efficiency isn’t important; cost is. If you have a device that’s only 10% efficient, but costs 1% as much to make per square meter as a 100% efficient device, you’re in business. The point of the nanoantennas is that they’re

a) potentially WAY cheaper than traditional solar cells per unit area, and

b) better for the environment, since they generally don’t require as many harmful chemicals to manufacture as most photovoltaics.

Incidentally, the infrared antennas are only a stepping stone. There’s a lot of work being done on visible optical antennas as well. The efficiency/cost isn’t there yet, but it will be someday soon.

By: Brad

Brad — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:53:00 +0000

a) potentially WAY cheaper than traditional solar cells per unit area, and

b) better for the environment, since they generally don’t require as many harmful chemicals to manufacture as most photovoltaics.

By: Nanoantennas: An Alternative to Solar Cells? « Solar Power Knowledge Project

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:55:02 +0000

[...] future energy, potential energy, solar news, solar power, sun solar by asteres According to cleantechnica.com, researchers at the US Department of Energy’s labs in Idaho have developed a technology that [...]

By: ED

ED — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:43:12 +0000

Here in the United States there is possibly the greatest wasted solar energy opportunity in the world

if we installed a solar station in death Valley one-mile by 1 mile square would it not produce enough energy to run the entire United States and never have to burn another coal plant again.

For the life of me I do not know why Bill Gates and some of the other billionaires cannot get together and get this done because land is super cheap in death Valley as well as an abundant amount of silken to make the solar panel with so why aren’t the billion-dollar companies investing in this opportunity.

By: ED

ED — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:43:00 +0000

Here in the United States there is possibly the greatest wasted solar energy opportunity in the world

if we installed a solar station in death Valley one-mile by 1 mile square would it not produce enough energy to run the entire United States and never have to burn another coal plant again.

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:28:26 +0000

Oh, Shawn. You silly, small minded person.

To even suggest that ‘limiting C02′ would ‘hurt’ the economy is totally imaginary. My brother-in-law runs a wind tower manufacturing plant. My 2nd cousin is going to be an engineer, working on wind and solar energy production. My B-I-L is currently ADDING to the economy. My cousin will be doing so after he graduates.

So, to blatantly lie like that instantly makes you part of the problem. And… whether you like it or not, Peak Oil is real. The economy is going to hurt after cheap plentiful oil runs out. Once it does, alternatives will be sought after.

Shawn, who do you think will be making money after Peak Oil? Well, that would be anyone working in the alternative energy industries. You won’t be there. Nope. Not you. You’ll still be presenting your imaginary issues and your imagainary scenarios.

You are quite silly. Quite.