Business Wire

UNIVERSITY-OF-OULU

30.6.2020 06:07:12 CEST | Business Wire | Press release

Share
University of Oulu: Butterfly Wings As Inspiration for More Effective Solar Panels

The color of butterflies is mainly attributed to structural color as a result of diffraction of natural light. However, black color denotes trapping of sunlight within the butterfly scales. In some extreme cases, a butterfly will be rapidly de-iced through light-heat conversion within black scales on wings. Inspired by such a natural light harvesting process, scientists in the University of Oulu, Finland, research unit NANOMO carefully examined nanostructures of black scales obtained from different butterflies and assessed their light trapping abilities when placed on Si-based solar panels.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005043/en/

Even with apparently the same dark color, butterfly scales have varied nanostructures depending on their species. For example, the morphology of Ornithoptera priamus scale consists of parallel V-shaped gullies formed between two ridges and connected by thin layers. This is very different from the scale structure of other three species, Tirumala limniace, Graphium doson, and Papilio protenor cramer, where the structures consist of round ridges spaced by arrays of 1, 2, and 3 holes. Correspondingly, light reflection on the black scales differs, with the one on the black part of Ornithoptera priamus owing minimum values ranging from 1-5% at the visible light region.

Using these structures as antireflective patterns will help sunlight harvesting on Si based photovoltaics. Computer simulated results showed that after placing these nanostructures on Si solar panels, surface backscattering decreased substantially. The scale structure of Ornithoptera priamus gave the best antireflection. Light reflection decreased from more than 35% on bare Si panel down to less than 5%. As a result, the short-circuit current, i.e. the largest current that can be obtained from the photovoltaic cell, was increased by 66%. Experimental realizations of such a strategy have also been proposed.

The latest research progress continues the world-leading role of NANOMO group in biomimicry. The unit pioneers in applying fundamental concepts in physics to applied photonics and solar energy harvesting. The research was coordinated by Professors Wei Cao and Marko Huttula, University of Oulu.

Considering the large volume of Si solar panels in use, it is foreseen that the butterfly wings can provide a major contribution to clean energy production.

Article:
Zhongjia Huang, Xinying Shi, Gang Wang, Petri Leukkunen, Marko Huttula, Wei Cao:
Antireflective design of Si-based photovoltaics via biomimicking structures on black butterfly scales, Solar Energy, Volume 4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.05.031 sciencedirect.com 2020
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038092X2030520X

Link:

ClickThru

About Business Wire

Business Wire
Business Wire
101 California Street, 20th Floor
CA 94111 San Francisco

http://businesswire.com

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

Mobix Labs Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Vision Aerial, Accelerating Global Drone Platform for National Security and Aerial Intelligence24.7.2026 13:00:00 CEST | Press release

Transaction accelerates Mobix Labs’ global aerial intelligence strategy and National Security Matters Initiative Mobix Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: MOBX) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Vision Aerial, Inc., a U.S.-based designer and manufacturer of American-built, National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)-compliant unmanned aerial systems. The definitive agreement moves the transaction beyond the previously announced letter of intent and represents a major step toward closing an acquisition that would expand Mobix Labs into one of the world’s most important technology growth markets: secure drones, autonomous aerial systems and aerial intelligence for national security, critical infrastructure, energy, public safety, industrial inspection and government operations. Vision Aerial’s customers and end-users include the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, government agencies, energy and utility operators, research institutions and other organizations requiring performanc

Enhertu® Plus Pertuzumab Recommended for Approval in the EU by CHMP as First-Line Treatment for Patients with HER2 Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer24.7.2026 13:00:00 CEST | Press release

Recommendation based on DESTINY-Breast09 phase 3 trial results that showed Enhertu plus pertuzumab reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 44% versus THP with a median progression-free survival exceeding three years If approved, Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca’s Enhertu plus pertuzumab would become first new treatment in the EU in more than a decade for first-line HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer Enhertu® (trastuzumab deruxtecan) in combination with pertuzumab has been recommended for approval in the European Union (EU) for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2 positive (immunohistochemistry [IHC] 3+ or in-situ hybridization [ISH]+) breast cancer. Enhertu is a specifically engineered HER2 directed DXd antibody drug conjugate (ADC) discovered by Daiichi Sankyo (TSE: 4568) and being jointly developed and commercialized by Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/NYSE: AZN). The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP)

SLB Announces Second-Quarter 2026 Results24.7.2026 12:50:00 CEST | Press release

Revenue of $8.97 billion increased 3% sequentially and 5% year on year GAAP EPS of $0.52 increased 4% sequentially and decreased 30% year on year EPS, excluding charges and credits, of $0.55 increased 6% sequentially and decreased 26% year on year Net income attributable to SLB of $786 million increased 5% sequentially and decreased 22% year on year Adjusted EBITDA of $1.90 billion increased 7% sequentially and decreased 7% year on year Cash flow from operations was $1.36 billion and free cash flow was $716 million Board approved quarterly cash dividend of $0.295 per share SLB (NYSE: SLB) today announced results for the second-quarter 2026. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260722694386/en/ The exterior of the SLB headquarters in Houston, Texas.Second-Quarter Results(Stated in millions, except per share amounts)Three Months EndedChangeJun. 30, 2026Mar. 31, 2026Jun. 30, 2025SequentialYear-on-yearRevenue $8,972 $8

NIQ Expands GenAI Capabilities Across gfknewron, Turning Trusted Intelligence into Decisions Faster24.7.2026 12:30:00 CEST | Press release

New capabilities help businesses uncover trends faster, simplify complex analysis, and accelerate confident decision-making NIQ (NYSE: NIQ), a leader in consumer intelligence, today announced the expansion of AI-powered Smart Insights across its gfknewron® platform. By bringing together markets and categories into a single view, gfknewron enables businesses to transform complex market, consumer and supply chain data into clear, actionable intelligence quickly. The latest enhancements help users identify trends, opportunities and performance drivers more quickly, reducing the time required to analyze large datasets and accelerating confident decision-making across teams. As brands and retailers face growing pressure to respond quickly to changing consumer behavior and market dynamics, the ability to unlock meaningful insights from increasingly rich datasets has become a significant competitive advantage. As AI is only as effective as the intelligence behind it, Smart Insights helps busi

Thales to Strengthen Romania’s Airspace Protection With Twelve Ground Master 200 MM/A Radars24.7.2026 10:05:00 CEST | Press release

The Romanian General Directorate for Armaments and the French Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA – the French defence procurement agency) have signed an agreement to supply twelve Thales GM200 Multi-Mission All-in-one (GM200 MM/A) radars to protect the Romanian airspace. This government-to-government agreement underlines the high level of partnership between France and Romania, within the framework of the European Union’s SAFE funding programme, in order to bolster Europe’s defence capabilities. The GM200 MM/A is part of Thales’ proven Ground Master radar family, which has already been deployed in over 40 countries, including now in Romania. In a context of growing collaboration between European nations to bolster collective security, the Romanian General Directorate for Armaments has just signed a landmark agreement with France’s Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) to acquire twelve Thales Ground Master 200 Multi-Mission All-in-one (GM200 MM/A) radars. This government-to-governm

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye