- William Yuan
William Yuan is a twelve year old boy from
Beaverton, Oregon . Yuan has developed a3D 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, theDavidson 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 eitherphotovoltaic , orsolar 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 2008Yuan'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 ofcarbon 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
References
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