engineers of a greenhouse for an agrovoltaic study. Both the roof and the plants yielded amazing results!
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Researchers at Samueli School of Engineering have developed semi-transparent organic solar panels that can absorb energy from the sunwhile still allowing enough light to pass through so plants get what they need.
Last week, Nature Sustainability published a fascinating study on how we can achieve sustainability by incorporating stable semi-transparent organic photovoltaics into greenhouses. Organic solar cells rely on carbon-based substances instead of the inorganic materials used for traditional solar devices.
Greenhouses are enclosed structures designed to protect and cultivate plants by providing them with a favorable growing environment. They create an artificial, controlled environment that helps plants grow faster and better than they would outside in their natural habitat. With the right combination of heat, light, and humidity, greenhouses are ideal for growing vegetables, fruits, flowers, and other plants.
The team added an extra layer of the tripeptide molecule L-glutathione, which is made up of the amino acids glutamine, cysteine, and glycine. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that occurs naturally in the body and can be purchased as an over-the-counter dietary supplement. It has amazing potential for improving overall health and promoting general well-being.
The team found that adding L-glutathione extended the operating time and enhanced the efficiency of the solar cells, while also allowing sunlight to penetrate a small greenhouse prototype that was similar in size to a dollhouse.
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Sunlight causes organic solar cells to oxidize, resulting in rapid depletion of electrons and a shorter lifespan than their inorganic counterparts. The scientists concluded that the additional layer of L-glutathione effectively prevented oxidation in other components of the solar cell. Thanks to the additional layer, the organic cells maintained an impressive 80% efficiency after 1,000 hours of continuous use. This is remarkable compared to the corresponding cells without this addition, which managed only a meager 20%. These results were reported by UCLA's Samueli Newsroom.
The scientists monitored the flowering of wheat, mung beans and broccoli in two different experiments to assess their progress. To optimize energy efficiency, one greenhouse had a glass roof with sections of inorganic solar cells, and the other was made entirely of semi-transparent organic photovoltaics .
Plants under the greenhouse's biological solar roof thrived better than those in a conventional greenhouse. Scientists believe that the L-glutathione layer blocked ultraviolet and infrared radiation, which in turn inhibit plant growth and lead to overheating of the greenhouse. As a result, the vegetation requires more water than usual to survive.
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The UCLA research team has founded a start-up to scale up the production of organic solar cells for industrial use and looks forward to commercializing greenhouses with these innovative solar cell roofs in the future.
