"An innovative solar panel technology could turn raindrops into electric power, according to scientists in China. The new solar cell design, which can be “triggered” by both rain and sun has been published in a chemistry journal. “All-weather solar cells are promising in solving the energy crisis,” explain the scientists from Ocean University of China and Yunnan Normal University, noting that the technology combines an electron-enriched graphene electrode with a dye-sensitized solar cell. “The new solar cell can be excited by incident light on sunny days and raindrops on rainy days,” they add. The Science News Journal notes that, by using a thin layer of highly conductive graphene, the solar cell could effectively harness power from rain. “The salt contained in rain separates into ions (ammonium, calcium and sodium), making graphene and natural water a great combination for creating energy,” it reports. “The water actually clings to the graphene, forming a dual layer (AKA pseudocapacitor) with the graphene electrons. The energy difference between these layers is so strong that it generates electricity.”"
(http://news.discovery.com/tech/alternative-power-sources/solar-panel-turns-raindrops-into-power-160411.htm)
This is very revolutionary if it turns out to work as expected. Ever since the world has used coal and oil as the main source of enerygy there has been a continual crisis. If these panels are able to harness solar and rain power it would create power almost 100% of the year. In places like Dallas that has both a rainy and sunny season this would be perfect in creating clean and efficient power.
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