Researchers from the National University of Singapore have found a way to generate electricity even from shadows.
Dubbed as “shadow-effect energy generator”, this device generates an electrical current when part of it is in the light and the other part isn’t.
Swee Ching Tan, scientist at National University of Singapore, said, “We can harvest energy anywhere on Earth, not just open spaces,”
Science behind:
This innovative device makes use of the contrast between lit and shadowed areas to generate electricity. Because of temperature difference, voltage difference between the shadowed and illuminated sections is created.
For generating electricity even from shadows, scientists placed a fine coating of gold on silicon. Light brimming on silicon energizes its electrons. Electrons flow across a gold coating from light to dark areas. Capturing that flow, the shadow-effect energy generator produces electric current even in the part that lies in shadow.
In this device, amount of energy generation depends on the contrast between the light and the dark. Greater the contrast more will be the produced energy. Researchers are now working to boost the device’s performance.
Tan added, “A lot of people think that shadows are useless,”
“Anything can be useful, even shadows.”
