So what if rain could power solar cells as well as the sun? The answer may be in a one-atom thick layer of carbon from graphite called graphene. This process was only discovered a decade ago, but ever since it has been changing the way we live. It can purify water and can be worn as technology. It is also currently called the “World’s Most Conductive Material,” which means that it is the best material available to produce electricity.
The scientists from Yunnan Normal University and Ocean University of China placed graphene on top of solar cells, which when exposed to rain, produces salts. These salts, including ammonium, calcium, and sodium, interact with graphene’s electrons to produce electricity. Therefore, the solar cells have been able to produce energy even on the cloudiest days.