Journal of Physical Chemistry & Biophysics
Open Access

Abstract

Semiconductor and Liquid Assisted Photo Thermal Effect: A New Method to Generate Electricity from Sunlight

Ibram Ganesh*

The Semiconductor and Liquid Assisted Photothermal Effect (SLAPE) concept was employed for the first time in this study to generate electricity from sunlight. In SLAPE process, a semiconducting material is immersed completely in a stable organic solvent to capture the sunlight reaching the earth surface completely and to turn it into the heat-energy, which can be eventually converted into electricity with the help of a heat engine and electric generator. The SLAPE solar panels were fabricated with top and bottom chambers separated by a thin thermally conducting metal sheet (Cu or Al). Upon exposure of a one square meter area SLAPE solar panel containing 21 numbers of silicon photovoltaic cells together with 2 litres γ-butyrolactone to the sunlight for about 2 hours generated about 17 V electricity with the help of a laboratory model reciprocally moved steam engine and a custom-made electric generator, whereas, a commercial SPVC solar panel with same 21 number SPVCs generates a maximum voltage of 11 V only. The theoretical background governing the SLAPE solar panels, the necessity for this invention and the establishment of the proof of concept of SLAPE solar panels have been thoroughly presented and discussed in this article.

Published Date: 2024-10-29; Received Date: 2023-11-22