Looks like those geniuses at MIT finally put those good-for-nothing viruses to work for us. Researchers at the Cambridge university have discovered a way to engineer viruses to assemble nanotubes in solar cells.
The virus in question is called M13 and usually infects bacteria. Dr. Angela Belcher, her graduate students, and other researchers are using a modified version of the virus to control the arrangement of hollow carbon cylinders on the surfaces of titanium dioxide solar cells. These dye-sensitized cells are lighter and less expensive than conventional silicon solar cells. Finding ways to increase their efficiency may help to make solar power a more viable alternative to current sources.
These carbon nanotubes work within the cells by funneling electrons released by the sun's light. However, they tend to bunch up and stick to each other when left to their own devices. This clumping reduces the number of electrons they can route toward a collector. The M13 viruses hold the cylinders in place, sort of like a wire sorter that keeps your power strips tidy. The viruses are also designed to produce titanium dioxide to power the cells. Having titanium dioxide particles in close proximity to the cylinders helps to direct the electrons down their intended path. As an added bonus, the viruses make the tubes water-soluble so that scientists can add them to the solar cells more easily.
In testing, the new virus-assembled solar cells were almost 30% more efficient than virus-free dye-sensitized cells. Carbon nanotubes have been tested in solar cells before, but never have scientists seen them work with such efficiency. Belcher's research team states that their method would be easy to integrate into existing dye-sensitized solar cell production, which is already commercialized in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.
The next generation of energy technology will probably depend on cheaper solar cells. The work being done now at MIT could potentially lead to solar cells becoming a more common power source. If manufacturers find that these virus-enhanced cells make better, cheaper products, we could be seeing more green energy in the future.
Never thought I'd say this, but way to go, viruses. Keep at it, little dudes, and I might even forgive you for the common cold.
(via ScienceBlog)