Researchers from the University of Warwick have invented a new “double-glazing” solar power device. Unlike any other existing solar panels, this device opens up fresh opportunities to develop more advanced photovoltaics.

This unique approach uses gas instead of vacuum to transport electrical energy. The device is essentially a thin double-glazed window. The outer pane is transparent and conductive while the inner pane is coated with a special material that acts as the source of electrons under sunlight. This is called “photocathode.”  The two panes are separated by a layer of safe inert gas, such as argon. When sunlight shines on the device, electrons are knocked out of the photocathode and reach the outer pane through gas without being absorbed or lost. This method is totally different from the way electrons work in the existing solar panels, and offers new possibilities for the improvement of solar power generation. The electrons are then collected and the electrical energy is fed into the network. This process is accomplished through a gap filled with gas rather than vacuum and is more cost-efficient for any practical device.