‘Cut fossil fuel, tap the sun’

 

Irrational use of energy resources not only causes their depletion but also results in environmental pollution and climate change, according to winner of the Swarup Bhatnagar award and scientist from the National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology A. Ajayaghosh.The main contribution to emission of carbon dioxide is from automotive emissions. The way out is to use solar electricity or hydrogen fuel.
"Today the best renewable energy source available is solar energy. Therefore conversion of solar light to electrical energy is at the centre of research," he said. Organic photo voltaics which absorb photons from the solar spectrum transfer the energy to an acceptor. The absorbed photons knock electrons to a higher stage of energy creating a charge and creating electricity. Organic photo voltaics are flexible and cheaper than silicon or cadmium-based solar cells. However the efficiency and life of these devices need to be enhanced, he added.

The Hindu, March 29