Solar panels capture more sunlight with capsaicin - the chemical that makes chili peppers spicy

By Jon Major, Research Fellow, Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, University of Liverpool

Here’s some news hot off the press. Researchers have found a secret ingredient for making solar panels that absorb the sun’s energy more efficiently. Depending on what you like to eat, there’s a good chance you can find it at home. Capsaicin, the chemical that gives chili peppers their spicy sting, also improves perovskite solar cells – the devices that make up solar panels.

Adding capsaicin expands the grains which make up the active material of the solar cell, allowing it to more effectively transport…

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