TECH

'Smart glass' converts sunlight into electricityResearchers at the University of California at Berkeley have discovered a new material that is capable of turning heat into electricity. Synthetic perovskite was developed to function as an "intelligent glass", capable of changing color and opacity depending on the incidence of the sun's rays.However, during testing, it was found that the material can also transform the heat of sunlight into electricity. The study was published in the journal Nature.According to the researchers, the perovskite can only convert 7% of the energy it receives into electricity and at a temperature of 100 ° C, which makes it unfeasible for commercial use. There is also color limitation, the material can only come out of the transparent to orange, brown or red.The group now wants to develop the technology so that the production of electricity starts from 50 ° C or 60 ° C, and with new colors. It is not known, however, whether the technology will ever become commercially viable.

N. M.