Stanford engineers develop 'invisible wires' that could improve solar cell efficiency (Stanford University)

(Source: Stanford University) Stanford Report, November 25, 2015 Stanford scientists have discovered how to make the electrical wiring on top of solar cells nearly invisible to incoming light. The new design, which uses silicon nanopillars to hide the wires, could dramatically boost solar-cell efficiency. By Mark Shwartz Mark Shwartz/Precourt Institute for Energy Research by Stanford scientists could lead to a new paradigm in the design and fabrication of solar cells. A solar cell is basically a semiconductor, which converts sunlight into electricity, sandwiched between metal contacts that carry the electrical current. But this widely used design has a flaw: The critical but shiny metal on...