LONDON: Researchers are looking into new ways to generate efficient photovoltaic energy and for this they have been inspired by the v-shaped posture of the humble Cabbage White butterfly.
Photovoltaic energy is the science behind solar power, where light is turned into electricity. It is a two-set process. Step one is a photoelectric effect, triggered by sunlight. The second step is an electrochemical process where crystallized atoms are ionized in a series, which generates an electric current.
To improve the collection of sunlight, a research group have been inspired by the resting posture of the Cabbage White butterfly (Pieris rapae). The species has a natural range across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. To many farmers, the butterflies are regarded as a pest; to others, they are pretty to look at. To one research group the butterflies are an inspiration.
The buttery adopts a v-shape in order to heat up its flight muscles prior to taking off. By creating solar panels in this formation, scientists think that the quantity of power that a solar panel can harness can be increased by around 50 percent.
The critical part is configuring the power-to-weight ratio. For this the researchers developed a lightweight reflective material.
