Can optical discs really generate solar power

Can a Blu-ray Disc help solar cells absorb sunlight?

This from Northwestern University: The Northwestern researchers have demonstrated that a Blu-ray disc’s strings of binary code 0s and 1s, embedded as islands and pits to store video information, give solar cells the near-optimal surface texture to improve their absorption over the broad spectrum of sunlight. Read the full article here.

Could a Blu-ray Disc be on a solar panel?

After all, solar panels must also trap light as it comes in. Maybe by replicating the microscopic, glassy wonderland of the surface of a Blu-ray disc onto a solar panel, the engineers could up a solar panel’s performance. This isn’t as weird of an idea as it seems at first blush.

Could old Blu-ray movie discs make solar cells more efficient?

As it turns out, old Blu-ray movie discs can be turned into something other than just colorful drink coasters: their semi-reflective surfaces may be the key to making more efficient solar cells. This discovery was made by engineers from Northwestern University and published in the journal Nature.

Can you really create solar panels from CDs?

Spoiler: Of Course Not! You may seen videos go viral, with tens of millions of views, that apparently show people creating photovoltaic arrays by wiring coils around grids of old compact discs (or even just adhering aluminum foil strips across them).

Are CDs useful for solar energy experimentation?

Even though CDs have some features that make them potentially useful for solar energy experimentation, more features are needed to create a highly efficient or practical solar panel. A CD’s shiny, reflective surface can help concentrate sunlight onto a solar cell or photovoltaic material, potentially increasing light absorption.

Can you make a photovoltaic array from old compact discs?

Spoiler: Of Course Not! You may seen videos go viral, with tens of millions of views, that apparently show people creating photovoltaic arrays by wiring coils around grids of old compact discs (or even just adhering aluminum foil strips across them). Hey, they look all shiny metallic and solar-y, so they should be able to generate power, right?