Diatomite is a simple organism present on earth for more than 4 billion years. It consists of an outer shell of porous silica. This porous structure has very unique structural characteristics. In addition to a structural role, it plays a particular role in helping photosynthetic activity.
The particular geometric structure of the frustule allows, by reflecting the light, to optimize the light flow necessary for photosynthesis inside the live organism and in the case of a low light flow to reflect a part of the light towards other diatoms to maximise the light flow capture between the diatoms.
The idea is to develop a particular covering membrane to apply on photovoltaic cells that would have the same characteristics as diatom frustules.
This would allow to increase the directed light towards the photovoltaic cells without the need to orient the panels when the light is not perfectly oriented, and when the light is perpendicular to cell to limit the heating of the cells and therefore to ensure their optimal operation.
The nature develop this solution in 4 billions years to ensure the photosynthetic process in diatoms also with a low light flow, it could be relevant to use this solution to increase the FV yield…
