Experimental device generates electricity from the coldness of the universe

The obvious drawback of solar panels is that they require sunlight to generate electricity. Some have observed that for a device on Earth facing space, which has a frigid temperature, the chilling outflow of energy from the device can be harvested using the same kind of optoelectronic physics we have used to harness solar energy. New work, in a recent issue of Applied Physics Letters, looks to provide a potential path to generating electricity like solar cells but that can power electronics at night.

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Tau.Neutrino said:

Experimental device generates electricity from the coldness of the universe

The obvious drawback of solar panels is that they require sunlight to generate electricity. Some have observed that for a device on Earth facing space, which has a frigid temperature, the chilling outflow of energy from the device can be harvested using the same kind of optoelectronic physics we have used to harness solar energy. New work, in a recent issue of Applied Physics Letters, looks to provide a potential path to generating electricity like solar cells but that can power electronics at night.

more…

Calculations made after the diode created electricity showed that, when atmospheric effects are taken into consideration, the current device can theoretically generate almost 4 watts per square meter, roughly one million times what the group’s device generated and enough to help power machinery that is required to run at night.

Jaysus, shakes head. 4 watts eh, may as well shut the coal generation plants now.

yeah nah

Tau.Neutrino said:

Experimental device generates electricity from the coldness of the universe

The obvious drawback of solar panels is that they require sunlight to generate electricity. Some have observed that for a device on Earth facing space, which has a frigid temperature, the chilling outflow of energy from the device can be harvested using the same kind of optoelectronic physics we have used to harness solar energy. New work, in a recent issue of Applied Physics Letters, looks to provide a potential path to generating electricity like solar cells but that can power electronics at night.

more…

Well, if I really wanted to be pedantic, coal fired power stations generate electricity from the coldness of the universe. What is called “undercooling” is radiation directly from the surface to space on windless nights. The amount of energy generated comes from the temperature difference between the hot side (fire) and the cold side (evaporation + convection + radiation to the coldness of the universe).