Harvard announced 2.3 million new compounds that generate electricity from the sun

Efforts to find cheaper, more versatile and solar-powered materials have made a new step as Harvard University announces the catalog of 2.3 million organic carbon compounds. capable of turning sunlight into electricity.

Harvard University's Clean Energy Project screened molecules using the World Community Grid (World Community Grid), a virtual supercomputer managed by IBM to testify. Exploiting the excess computing power contributed by volunteers. This project has provided the most comprehensive quantum chemistry assessment ever done.

Now scientists can use the results of this study by Harvard University to continue to investigate the most potential compounds, which in turn can develop organic semiconductor materials, new materials and above all electrical equipment, such as solar batteries.

About 1,000 molecular structures evaluated in the Harvard University study have the ability to convert at least 11% of the absorbed solar energy into electricity. 35,000 other structures are capable of achieving conversion efficiency of at least 10% or more. Currently, most of the organic cells that have been evaluated until now are only able to convert between 4% and 5% of the absorbed solar energy into electricity. Solar materials use silicon, although they can achieve about 15% efficiency but are much more expensive.

Organic solar batteries have more potential than traditional materials like silicon. For example, carbon materials can be produced at low cost and in large quantities by the technology currently used to produce plastic bags, so remote and impoverished communities also may benefit. Versions of solar batteries can be wrapped, painted or sprayed on roofs, windows and walls, and can also be thin and light enough to be used on handheld devices.

This new announcement is highly appreciated by the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy. Previously, Harvard University's Clean Energy Project and IBM World Community Grid World Community Network were included in the MGI (Materials Genome Initiative) initiative initiated by President Obama. June 2011 in the framework of efforts to create new jobs, solve social challenges, and improve US global competitiveness through promoting material science.