Sea Sponge Biomimicry
17 December 2006, 14:41
Categories: biomimicry smt-energy-photovoltaic
An Euplectella marine sponge converts silicic acid from seawater into silicon dioxide that it can then assemble into a precise nano-structure of silica. Scientists are looking at the sponges to learn how they can make more efficient semiconductor materials that are able to convert light into energy and, hence, could be used to make better solar cells. Thus in future, our energy-intensive semiconductor fabrication facilities might be replaced by vats of reacting compounds that cheaply self-assemble into working electronics.
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Posted by: The Editors
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