12 Year Old FLL Boy Invents New Solar Cell

[Tim Arnold]

Didn't see this posted and saw it on digg (http://digg.com/general_sciences/12_year_old_boy_invents_new_type_of_solar_cell)...
William Yuan’s 3D cell can absorb both visible and UV light. According to his calculations, solar panels equipped with his 3D cells could provide 500 times more light absorption than current commercial solar cells and nine times more light than existing 3D solar cells.
Since 2005, William has been involved in the First Lego League (FLL), which led him to research renewable energy and nanotechnology. During his research and community outreach, William realized the importance of renewable energy for future generations and began to focus his research on solar cells. William regularly visited Portland State University (PSU) as part of this research.
http://presskit.ditd.org/2008_Davidson_Fellows_Press_Kit/2008_DF_William_Yuan.pdf (found via http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/17/12-year-old-boy-invents-new-type-of-solar-cell/ )

[Joe G.]

Heard about it at school. Didn't know the kid was inspired to do it through FLL though. Wow.

Unfortunately, all my team's FLL projects have involved full scale mars rovers, satellites, distillation plants, or atomic manipulation. :] Maybe someday...

[gblake]

I saw these blurbs today in another online location.

However, when I tried to find out what student actually did, I found two things:

The sorts of nonsensical press release statements found by the OP below, and
Notices reminding the world that a Georgia Tech research team already invented and patented 3D solar cells, and references to existing solar cell designs that use nanotubes.

From my own personal experience, I know that putting solar cells or other energy converters/trap on towers is nothing new.

So... What did this bright kid really do? The press releases I have found so far are pretty much useless. Who out there knows the real story?

Blake

[Greg Needel]

I saw these blurbs today in another online location.

However, when I tried to find out what student actually did, I found two things:

The sorts of nonsensical press release statements found by the OP below, and
Notices reminding the world that a Georgia Tech research team already invented and patented 3D solar cells, and references to existing solar cell designs that use nanotubes.

From my own personal experience, I know that putting solar cells or other energy converters/trap on towers is nothing new.

So... What did this bright kid really do? The press releases I have found so far are pretty much useless. Who out there knows the real story?

Blake


Personally I don't really care how much of a discovery this really is, because i can guarantee that there are many other groups working with similar solutions as this kid, even with no knowledge of what he did.

What I take from this is that he was inspired by FLL and committed himself to it. He is now getting a 25,000 scholarship for his work. And while we don't know the specifics I suspect that other bright minds have verified his findings. I also think that this kid has a bright future in R&D, regardless of the medium. That kind of commitment to finding a solution is something that many people don't have.


p.s. i bet this kid will be interviewed for one of the future first segments this season.

[Elgin Clock]

Man.. I wish I was that motivated at 12...
And I wish I was in FIRST as a student too, but that's another topic altogether.

[gblake]

Personally I don't really care how much of a discovery this really is, ... Sigh

[DonRotolo]

Unfortunately, all my team's FLL projects have involved <snip> or atomic manipulation.
Hmm, a new fundraising idea... converting 3 Irons and a Hydrogen into Gold...

[sanddrag]

Here's a video on him http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=5813773