Better solar panels from moths and cicadas

This kind of thing really fascinates me. Every time we turn around, we see amazingly efficient structures in nature. And more and more our technology is attempting to imitate them. A professor of chemical engineering, Peng Jiang, at the University of Florida has come up with a new coating for glass and solar cells.

His coating is based on the amazingly efficient light absorption properties of a Moth’s eyes and the water deflection properties of a cicadas wings. Both abilities rely on a complex pattern of nanoscale size bumps on the surface. Using nanotech, he has managed to create a coating that replicates the bump pattern. The new coating should allow for better more efficient and self cleaning solar panels.

It is really interesting how much research is going into replicating natural structures for everything from better glues and sticky tape to water walking robots.

Via Physorg: From moths and cicadas come improvements to solar cells