Let there be light! Solar cells that emit photons break efficiency record

UC Berkeley engineers have demonstrated that when flatplate solar cells emit light particles, there is a big boost in voltage and efficiency. Their prototype cell was able to convert a record 28.6 percent of the Sun's energy into electricity. The Berkeley team will present its findings at the Conference on Lasers and Electro Optics (CLEO: 2012), to be held May 6-11 in San Jose, Calif. The Optical Society has the story.