Scientists at Pennsylvania State University, the first fly’s eye from the green to get the inspiration to improve the efficiency of the next generation of solar cells.
The group is studying the use of fly cornea to create bionic surface or mimic the surface properties of biological tissue. The surface can be used for a variety of applications, including solar cells.
Blowfly’s compound eye was hemispherical,sony PCGA-BP2E battery hemispherical compound eyes of the inner surface is covered with hexagonal nanometer features eye. Photos from Pennsylvania State University Ashlesh Lakhtakia
According to the researchers revealed that the eyes of the green head flies can be used in the manufacture of solar cells. The compound eyes of flies were hemispherical, hemispherical compound eyes of the inner surface covered with hexagonal eyes with nanometer features.
Godfrey Binder Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics Akhlesha Lakhtakia said: “These eyes are used to manufacture solar cells on the perfect material, because they can collect a greater range of more sunshine, not just fall a plane of light. ”
However, the surface must be fine enough to keep the overall design in order to successfully manufacture the product. Therefore, Lakhtakia and his colleagues to develop a plan to create nanometer features to retain a huge mold.
Researchers in nine blowfly eye array coated 250-nanometer nickel coating, the glass substrate fixed cornea and fill in the bottom of the poly-dimethyl siloxane - a silicon-based organic polymer This will not leak to the nickel-eyes behind.
Then, they form a vacuum chamber by thermal evaporation coating materials, the deposition of nickel on the surface. Object receiving the coating will be attached to a rack, this rack will rotate once every two seconds.
This process will create a 50 mm thick master template that can be used as a mold or copy the pattern shown in Figure Chapter mold. Scientists aim to use the main template to further production of other molds and dies, as well as the template attached to the large area of the tile template.
The group will expand its template to contain 30 green head flies the cornea. Once they have the template, and its tiled together, this will create a greater surface to for the manufacture of solar cells.