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Butterflies Inspire Solar Panel Development

The wings of butterflies are not only beautiful, but also solar energy collector is very good so as to give warmth to the butterfly itself.

Tongxiang Fan, material experts from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China revealed that the butterfly's wings could inspire the development of solar panels. "The ability to absorb and manipulate the light is important for the performance of solar energy devices," Fan said as quoted by the New York Times, Monday (04/02/2012).

Fan studied the structure of butterfly wings are two black and using electron microscopy. Black butterfly was chosen because it can absorb maximum sunlight.

Fan found that the wings are two types of butterfly-like structure that consists of a rectangular-shaped scales. The structure is composed of similar composition roof.

Similar structures composed of scales were also quite steep, with a small hole into the second layer. The structure helps heat directed to the second layer so that the butterfly to get hot enough.

Fan has developed a solar panel in accordance with the natural design of butterfly wings. "The prototype is very, very effective," said Fan.

Today, Fan and his colleagues are developing a prototype that can be mass produced.