As a child, you might have used magnifying lenses to focus sun’s rays onto anything you wanted to burn (which is hopefully not something like your 5th grade teacher’s wig). Even if you haven’t, you’d be well aware that it’s possible to do so. IBM takes it to a whole new level and used a magnifying glass to significantly improve solar energy output.

According to test results, IBM was able to capture 230 watts of energy on just one centime of solar cell which would then be converted to 70 watts of usable electricity. That is FIVE times the usual output of typical PVs. So, if just a small surface area could generate electricity which could power whole structures, for example, this means there’d be a decrease in the needed quantity of photovoltaics, thereby lessening installation costs.

It’s impossible to apply the mechanism on an ordinary solar panel, if you’re wondering. You see, magnifying the sun on a small surface area could melt the solar cell. What IBM did was to borrow its computer chip cooling technology. To achieve this, IBM incorporated a liquid metal thermal cooling system onto ordinary PV cells. The cooling system is comprised of liquid indium and gallium sandwiched between the PV cell and a cooling block. When the panel is exposed to sunlight, the cell transfers the heat to the cooling block lowering temperatures of more than 1,600 degrees Celsius to just 85 degrees, preventing the panel’s meltdown. IBM, by the way, won’t venture into solar panel production. This technology would probably be sold to a solar panel company as IBM is currently in talks with some. Source

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