More Durable UV Coating For Solar Panels Made From Red Onion Skins (zmescience.com)
- Reference: 0179440868
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/09/21/1942234/more-durable-uv-coating-for-solar-panels-made-from-red-onion-skins
- Source link: https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/a-new-solar-panel-shield-made-from-onion-peels-outlasted-industry-plastics-in-tests/
> Researchers from the University of Turku, in collaboration with Aalto University and Wageningen University, have developed a bio-based UV protection film for solar cells that not only blocks nearly all harmful ultraviolet light but also outperforms commercial plastic films. The key ingredient is a water extract made from red onion skins...
>
> [T]he same sunlight that powers [solar cells] can also degrade their delicate components — particularly the electrolyte inside dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), a type known for their flexibility and low-light performance. To mitigate this, manufacturers typically wrap cells in UV-protective films made from petroleum-based plastics like polyethylene terephthalate (PET). But these plastics degrade over time and are difficult to recycle... Nanocellulose can be processed into thin, transparent films that serve as the perfect substrate for UV-blocking compounds.
>
> Their breakthrough came when they dyed these films using an extract from red onion skins, a common kitchen waste. The result was a filter that blocked 99.9% of UV radiation up to 400 nanometers, a feat that outstripped even the PET-based commercial filters chosen for comparison... [T]he onion-treated filter excelled: it let through over 80% of light in the 650-1,100 nm range — an ideal sweet spot for energy absorption... Even predictive modeling based on early degradation trends suggested the CNF-ROE filter could extend a solar cell's lifetime to roughly 8,500 hours. The PET-based filter? Just 1,500 hours... [T]he red onion extract offered a rare combination of longevity, transparency, and sustainability...
>
> The team envisions biodegradable solar cells for smart packaging, remote sensors, or wearable devices — especially in applications where recovery and recycling are not feasible. Their work is part of the BioEST project, funded by the Research Council of Finland, which supports sustainable innovation across electronics and materials science. This achievement taps into a broader movement to decarbonize every step of solar energy production. Plastic packaging is one of the overlooked sources of emissions in clean technology. Swapping out fossil-based plastics for biodegradable alternatives helps close that loop...
>
> The findings appeared in the journal [3]Applied Optical Materials .
[1] https://www.slashdot.org/~fahrbot-bot
[2] https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/a-new-solar-panel-shield-made-from-onion-peels-outlasted-industry-plastics-in-tests/
[3] https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsaom.4c00484
A life of 8500 hours? (Score:3)
For those keeping score at home, 8500 hours is just over 354 days.
Re: (Score:2)
According to the paper the hours measured was for an accelerated light soaking stress test. Still not 100% on the timeframes here, still seems a little short...
DSSCs along with UV filter films were subjected to an intensive light soaking protocol using an Atlas XLS+ solar simulation system. The xenon lamp of the system (model NXE 1700), which simulates the AM1.5G solar spectrum, (34) facilitated a 1000-h exposure to artificial sunlight. The spectral irradiance within the UV 300–400 nm range was quant
Re: (Score:2)
> For those keeping score at home, 8500 hours is just over 354 days.
(a) The Sun doesn't shine 24 hours/day. (On on spot on the Earth /pedantic :-) )
(b) It's still projected to last 5.6x longer than the current petroleum-based coating.
> ... the CNF-ROE filter could extend a solar cell's lifetime to roughly 8,500 hours. The PET-based filter? Just 1,500 hours.
Silly question ... (Score:2)
... is stuff gonna eat that solar panel covering now?
Re: (Score:2)
> ... is stuff gonna eat that solar panel covering now?
It's the red coloring in the onion skins, which is extracted and bound with cellulose from wood pulp. From TFA:
> The CNF-ROE film—short for cellulose nanofiber with red onion extract ...
I'm guessing it'll be too meager a meal for termites... :-)
Re: (Score:2)
> I'm guessing it'll be too meager a meal for termites... :-)
Well in that case, count me in :)
Interesting.. (Score:2)
That Onions seem to have antibiotic properties, are good for cuts, and bacteria does not seem to grow on them. After I cut up onions, I personally don't consider the knife "dirty", so I do a quick rinse and let it dry. I don't think twice about it. I think that it is cool that someone is researching more ways to take advantage of that property of Onions.
"a common kitchen waste" (Score:2)
that explanation felt uncommonly unnecessary
I know I'll cry (Score:2)
when my panel breaks.