MIT researcher have made a self-healing solar cell that fixes its own UV damage.

According to the university, the chemical cell mimics nature where light-capturing molecules are constantly broken down and reassembled.

"I was really impressed by how plant cells have this extremely efficient repair mechanism," said chemical engineer Dr Michael Strano. In full summer sunlight, "a leaf on a tree is recycling its proteins about every 45 minutes, even though you might think of it as a static photocell."

That process has now been imitated by Strano's team with a set of self-assembling molecules that can turn sunlight into electricity.

"Strano says he believes this sets a record for the complexity of a self-assembling system," said the university.

He produced synthetic phospholipids molecules that provide structural support for proteins with reaction centres that release electrons when illuminated.

Source : www.electronicsweekly.com