From Physorg.com  11.3.08

Solar power game-changer: ‘Near perfect’ absorption of sunlight, from all angles

A new anti-reflective coating developed by researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute could help to overcome two major hurdles blocking the progress and wider use of solar power. The nanoengineered coating boosts the amount of sunlight captured by solar panels and allows those panels to absorb the entire spectrum of sunlight from any angle, regardless of the sun’s position in the sky. Credit: Rensselaer/Shawn Lin

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Nicole Kuepper, 23 has won two Austrailian Museum Eureka Prizes for her scientific research. She also won the People’s Choice Award, in which almost 16,000 members of the public voted for their favourite scientist out of six finalists.

She has developed a simple and inexpensive way of producing solar cells using ink jet printers and pizza ovens. This could eventually bring light and power to the 2 billion people in the world who lack electricity. And at the same time improve their qualtity of life, health and air.

As an passionate researcher trying to find solutions to climate change and solutions for the poorest among us… Ms. Kuepper may be able to bring this inovative “solar pie” to the market within five years. It could also prove to lower the cost of solar power around the globe.

“I love working with passionate people who want to help address climate change and poverty by thinking and experimenting outside the square” - Nicole Kuepper

photo: Kate Beraghty

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I just love this kind of passionate and innovative push toward solutions.

Well done and congratulations on your well deserved awards Nicole!

-Bruce