On September 24th, William Yuan, a seventh-grader from Beaverton, Oregon will be honored in Washington D.C . as the youngest Davidson Science Fellow, for his design of a three-dimensional, highly-efficient solar cell.

The award, sponsored by the Davidson Institute of Talent Development, seeks out projects that benefit society and are socially relavant. In addition to the award, William will also receive a $25,000 USD scholarship.

It all started about two years ago after William learnt about nanotechnology, while taking a robotics Lego class. Intrigued by the possibilities of the technology, he started to investigate what else he could use if for. His science teacher Susan Duncan, directed him towards renewable energy, and William, who feels that the Sun's energy is underused, decided to pursue a project to find the most efficient way to harness solar energy.

He focused on improving the design of the solar cell, which currently is flat and absorbs only visible light, as well as, designing a nanotube to convert light to electricity in a highly efficient manner. It took him two years, but with the help and support of his teacher, parents and a few professors and a lot of hard work, William finally got the design right.

And boy did he get it right! If his design works and the professors and environmental judges who gave the award have no doubt it will, he has succeeded in revolutionizing the solar cell. His invention, which absorbs both visible and ultra-voilet light, is capable of absorbing 500 times more light than what is currently available, and nine times more than even the most advanced solar cells on the market today.

William says his next step is to find a company that will manufacture a prototype to test it - and if it works, manufacture and market the solar cell. William plans to use the money to attend the best possible University to study nanotechnology, biotechnology or medicine. We have no doubt this brilliant young man has an amazingly bright future ahead of him.

Source: Beaverton Valley Times, Katu.com