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-   -   12 Year Old FLL Boy Invents New Solar Cell (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69228)

Tim Arnold 18-09-2008 18:27
12 Year Old FLL Boy Invents New Solar Cell
 
Didn't see this posted and saw it on digg...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clean Technica
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.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Press Release PDF
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_Davids...lliam_Yuan.pdf (found via http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/17/...of-solar-cell/ )

Joe G. 18-09-2008 18:43
Re: 12 Year Old FLL Boy Invents New Solar Cell
 
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 18-09-2008 20:58
Re: 12 Year Old FLL Boy Invents New Solar Cell
 
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 18-09-2008 22:33
Re: 12 Year Old FLL Boy Invents New Solar Cell
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gblake (Post 766129)
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 18-09-2008 23:02
Re: 12 Year Old FLL Boy Invents New Solar Cell
 
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 18-09-2008 23:32
Re: 12 Year Old FLL Boy Invents New Solar Cell
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Needel (Post 766134)
Personally I don't really care how much of a discovery this really is, ...
Sigh

DonRotolo 19-09-2008 21:20
Re: 12 Year Old FLL Boy Invents New Solar Cell
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rocketperson44 (Post 766116)
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 22-09-2008 12:55
Re: 12 Year Old FLL Boy Invents New Solar Cell
 
Here's a video on him http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=5813773


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