The new solar structure consists of n-type nanocones made of zinc oxide surrounded by a p-type semiconductor matrix made of polycrystalline cadmium telluride.
The wings are covered with a sheet of thin-film solar panels, which produce less power than the polycrystalline solar panels found on buildings, but are very lightweight.
On the greener side of things, Ceradyne opens a factory this month in China to produce gear used in the production of polycrystalline silicon for the solar power industry.
Continue on to Mobile and a Mitsubishi Electric plant is emerging from the red earth and, some time next year, will account for 6% of the world's supply of polycrystalline silicon for compact discs and microchips.