William Yuan

William Yuan is a twelve year old boy from Beaverton, Oregon. Yuan has developed a 3D Solar Cell that has the potential to revolutionize solar power. [cite news|first=Susan|last=Harding|url=http://www.katu.com/news/28432984.html|title=Beaverton boy lauded for solar cell invention|publisher=KATU|date=2008-09-15|accessdate=2008-09-19] His project, named "A Highly-Efficient 3-Dimensional Nanotube Solar Cell for Visible and UV Light" was granted a $25,000 scholarship, the Davidson Fellow award,cite web|title=2008 Davidson Fellow Laureates|url=http://www.davidsongifted.org/fellows/Article/Davidson_Fellows___2008_405.aspx|publisher=Davidson Institute|accessdate=2008-09-19] for use on future research.

At the heart of Yuan's project is a solar cell that can harness both visible and ultraviolet light. Most solar collectors in use today are either photovoltaic, or solar thermal.Fact|date=September 2008 While visible, infrared, and ultraviolet light are all heavily scattered or absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere, ultraviolet light comes in at shorter wavelengths and with higher energy than both visible and infrared light. Ultraviolet light can provide more energy to a collector than other, longer-wavelength members of the electromagnetic spectrum.Fact|date=September 2008

Yuan's solar cells are calculated to absorb about nine hundred times more light then a conventional solar cell and nine times more than advanced 3D solar cells.Fact|date=September 2008 3D solar cells have been developed elsewhere, notably the Georgia Tech Research Institute. [cite pressrelease|url=http://www.gtri.gatech.edu/casestudy/3d-solar-cells-boost-efficiency|title=Nano-Manhattan: 3D Solar Cells Boost Efficiency While Reducing Size, Weight and Complexity of Photovoltaic Arrays|publisher=Georgia Tech Research Institute|accessdate=2008-09-19] [cite news|first=John|last=Toon|url=http://gtresearchnews.gatech.edu/newsrelease/3d-solar.htm|title=3D Solar Cells Boost Efficiency While Reducing Size, Weight and Complexity of Photovoltaic Arrays|publisher=Georgia Institute of Technology|date=2007-04-11|accessdate=2008-09-19] They make use of carbon nanotubes, which allow the cell to distribute the energy it collects without dissipating as much as traditional cells do. William's solar cell utilized carbon nanotubes which double the efficiency of light-electricity conversion. cite news|first=Dan|last=Talpalariu|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Little-Wonder-Boy-Discovers-New-Solar-Cell-Type-93760.shtml|title=Little Wonder Boy Discovers New Solar Cell Type|publisher=Softpedia|date=2008-09-18|accessdate=2008-09-19]

Some of William's other endeavors include: FIRST Lego League, Science Bowl, Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement, Signal to Noise, American Mathematics Competitions, Mathcounts, Chess, Geo-Bee, and the Discovery Education Young Scientist Challenge and Taekwando, a sport in which he holds a black belt. He is also very full of himself and he thinks everyone in his class has a crush on him.

Honors and awards

* 2008 Davidson Fellow
* 2008 Northwest Science Expo, Second Place
* 2008 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Best Engineering Project
* 2008 Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Talent Search, First Place in Oregon State (Verbal)
* 2008 Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Talent Search, First Place in Oregon State (Quantitative)
* 2008 High Tech Kids First Lego League First Lego League (FLL) International Open (team), Second Place Champion’s Award
* 2008 Oregon Chess for Success State Tournament, Team Championship, First Place
* 2008 Oregon Chess for Success State Tournament, Second Place
* 2007 Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Talent Search, First Place in Oregon State
* 2007 Intel Oregon FLL Champion’s Award (team), First Place
* 2007 Oregon Chess for Success State Tournament, Team Championship, First Place
* 2007 Oregon Chess for Success State Tournament, Second Place
* 2007 World Taekwondo Headquarters: Poom Certificate
* 2006 Intel Oregon FLL State Tournament Young Team, First Place
* 2006 Oregon Chess for Success State Tournament, Team Championship, First Place
* 2005 Intel Oregon FLL Regional Tournament (team), First Place Award
* 2005 Oregon Chess for Success State Tournament (team), Second Place

References