Vanderbilt University Turning diamond film into solar cells Diagram of diamond film solar-electric converter.
Concentrated sunlight is focused on the bottom of the device.
The electrically conducting layer forms an electric gate that produces an electric field that pulls large numbers of electrons off the heated tips. These electrons flow through a vacuum to reach the anode, producing a strong electric current. Such a device can convert up to 50 percent of the energy in the sunlight into electric power, compared to 10 to 15 percent for conventional silicon solar cells. By contrast, the performance of silicon cells degrades by about 50 percent after 10 years in orbit. Can operate at high temperatures.