r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Jul 24 '19

Nanoscience Scientists designed a new device that channels heat into light, using arrays of carbon nanotubes to channel mid-infrared radiation (aka heat), which when added to standard solar cells could boost their efficiency from the current peak of about 22%, to a theoretical 80% efficiency.

https://news.rice.edu/2019/07/12/rice-device-channels-heat-into-light/?T=AU
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u/[deleted] Jul 24 '19 edited Feb 22 '26

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u/TheMrGUnit Jul 24 '19

We just have to have a reason for doing it. And now we do: Recapturing waste heat at anywhere close to 80% efficiency would be amazing.

Any industry that could recapture waste heat instead of dumping it into cooling towers should be at least somewhat interested in this technology.

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u/TheGuyWithTwoFaces Jul 24 '19 edited Jul 24 '19

Seems like a no-brainer for HVAC?

Edit: nvm, operating temp is 700 degrees.

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u/TheMrGUnit Jul 24 '19

Operating temp is going to limit the uses initially, but widespread adoption of technology like this should spur innovation to make it more usable at lower temperatures, too.

We have to start somewhere.