Developed by the ProME³ThE²US² project within the European Commission’s FP7 framework, ‘black diamond’ is an innovative concept that promises to change the future of solar technology, potentially exceeding 50 per cent efficiency in solar concentration systems.

Diamonds satisfy two of the three conditions necessary for solar radiation capture – being able to withstand extremely high temperatures, and having the ability to emit electrons efficiently – but, because of their transparency, they are unable to adequately interact with sunlight. The team’s creation of the ‘black diamond’ fulfils this third condition and can harness solar radiation at temperatures up to 1000 °C, according to the researchers.

Furthermore, industrial low-cost ‘black diamond’ is exploitable for other electronic applications outside of solar technology, and the ProME³ThE²US² team are inviting other industries to discover the benefits of this exciting new material.

The ProME³ThE²US² project coordinator, Dr Daniele M. Trucchi, acknowledges that sustainability is essential for new technologies to be viable, and defines the scope within economic as well as environmental parameters: “Solar radiation is the largest energy source we have on Earth. Its more efficient and diffused exploitation means a higher energy availability with a minimal contribution to CO₂ formation,” Trucchi explains to International Innovation. “Nevertheless, high efficiency is not enough – materials composing the converters cannot be toxic to humans and have to be simply and economically recoverable at the end of their lifetime.” 

Although solar research and development has been struggling for investment in recent years, mainly because of low hydrocarbon prices, the ProME³ThE²US² team are hopeful that as prices inevitably rise, the economic case for fossil fuels will subside, and their work will gain recognition in the renewable energy community.

For more information visit: http://www.internationalinnovation.com/prometheus-stealing-the-sun-is-no-myth/