Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Breakthrough for solar cell research

Researchers from Lund University have made a significant breakthrough in solar cell technology, demonstrating the potential for nanowires to produce 13.8% efficient energy. The nanowire solar cells can absorb sunlight more efficiently than traditional silicon cells, offering higher efficiency at a lower cost.

SourceLund University·JournalScience·DateJan 18, 2013

Taking solar technology up a notch

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new, all-solid-state solar cell that exceeds the performance of traditional Grätzel cells. The device achieves an impressive conversion efficiency of approximately 10.2 percent and is stable over time, addressing key limitations of current solar technology.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature·DateMay 23, 2012

Redefining the kilogram and the ampere

Scientists have made precise measurements of the quantum Hall effect in graphene, supporting the redefinition of the kilogram and ampere. This breakthrough aims to establish a universal and stable definition for these fundamental constants, linking them to natural quantities.

SourceNational Physical Laboratory·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateSep 29, 2011

Nuclear detector

Researchers developed semiconductor materials that detect gamma rays, identifying plutonium and uranium. The method uses dimensional reduction to create heavy elements with immobilized electrons, making them suitable for detection.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateSep 12, 2011

Conducting energy on a nano scale

Prof. Eran Rabani's team at Tel Aviv University successfully dopes semiconductor nanocrystals, enabling the creation of p-n junctions in solar panels, light-emitting diodes, and other devices. The method allows for controlled electronic properties, opening up possibilities for more efficient and cost-effective applications.

New kid on the plasmonic block

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have demonstrated localized surface plasmon resonances in doped semiconductor quantum dots, opening up possibilities for plasmonic sensing and manipulation of solid-state processes. This discovery extends the range of candidate materials for plasmonics to include semiconductors, offering advantages such as d...

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Materials·DateApr 18, 2011

Magnets trump metallics

Researchers at Rice University discovered that strong magnetic fields can transform highly conductive carbon nanotubes into semiconductors. By applying a magnetic field, a band gap opens up and the material becomes an insulator.

SourceRice University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 8, 2010

Breaking barriers with nanoscale lasers

Researchers at Arizona State University and Technical University of Eindhoven have made a breakthrough in creating nanoscale lasers, which can improve computer performance and speed up Internet access. The new design uses a combination of semiconductors and metals to confine light and achieve a laser with the smallest thickness ever pr...

SourceArizona State University·JournalOptics Express·DateJul 28, 2009

Nanostructure boosts efficiency in energy transport

Boston College researchers have developed a titanium nanostructure that improves the efficiency of energy transport, achieving a peak conversion efficiency of 16.7 percent under ultraviolet light. The novel material enhances the 'water-splitting' technique by collecting and transporting electrons with minimal energy loss.

SourceBoston College·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMar 3, 2009

Tension in the nanoworld

A team of researchers at CIC nanoGUNE and Max Planck Institutes developed a non-invasive method to map strain fields in semiconductors using scattering-type Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy (s-SNOM). The technique resolves nanoscale material properties with 20 nm spatial resolution.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJan 23, 2009