Part of the reason why solar energy took so long to catch on is that the number of solar cells required to produce usable energy was massive. This was because of the failure of the solar cells to convert the solar energy efficiently, which resulted in loss of solar power. Nano technology may have a solution to overcome this large loss of power.

At the Arizona State University researchers have developed nano particles using graphite which are able to improve the absorbtion of solar energy of solar cells. Traditional Photovoltaic solar panels can use only a fraction of the sunlight that reaches them. The rest gets converted to heat and impedes the absorption of energy.

This limitation was partially overcome by using solar collectors. The solar thermal collector collects this extra heat and uses it to boil water, make steam and run a turbine to generate electricity. It is these solar collectors that the researchers have improved by adding mixed nanoparticles including those of graphite.

Being black in color makes graphite a good absorber of heat. This increases the heat collection of the solar collectors making them more efficient. There are many potential uses of these improved solar thermal collectors and the researchers are working on many science projects related to this as well.