The wings of a black butterfly are made up of tiny scales that form one large surface area, which absorbs 99.94% of the light that hits it. The scales are capable of letting in more light than they reflect since their surface is “kind of spongy or mesh-like, with ridges and holes.” This unique structure allows the wings to appear black, as they reflect so little light.
This is similar to the difference between black and blue solar panels. Black solar panels are black as a result of each cell being a single silicon crystal that absorbs almost all light. This improved light absorption is why black solar panels are more efficient than blue panels.
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Solar Panel Efficiency
In a study published in Solar Energy, scientists ran a numerical simulation in which silicon slabs, the light-absorbing material of photovoltaic cells used on solar panels, were structured similarly to wings of nine different species of black butterflies. The aim was to reduce the amount of surface reflection and increase light input. According to the results, the amount of light they reflected was reduced from more than 35% to 10%.
With less light being reflected, the silicon slabs effectively absorbed more light, increasing the short-circuit current or absolute maximum current produced by the slabs by up to 66%. This increase in efficiency is significant, and it has the potential to make solar panels more effective at generating electricity.
Limitations of Solar Panel Efficiency
While the possibility of increased efficiency is exciting, there are several issues that make maximum solar efficiency unlikely. For instance, shadows and bad angles can reduce the amount of direct sunlight that a solar panel can get. Debris like dirt, dust, snow, and water can block sunlight, reducing the amount of light that the PV cells can convert into usable electricity.
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Heat is another issue, with the efficiency of the PV cells dropping by 0.3% to 0.5% with each degree when the temperature rises above 25 degrees Celsius. Even if everything is right, down to the 33% rule for panels; the universe still won’t allow solar efficiency to reach 100%. This is due to the second law of thermodynamics, which tells us that everything that happens in the universe is wasteful.
The first law of thermodynamics tells us that energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can only become something else — in this case, it becomes heat. This means that when the light is converted to usable electricity, some of that energy will be lost. This fundamental limit on the efficiency of solar panels is a reminder that, while technological advancements can improve their performance, there are still physical limits that cannot be transcended.
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