Articles tagged with Photovoltaics
A new type of solar cell with a wide bandgap perovskite material has been developed to improve efficiency and durability. The researchers achieved a 26.7% efficient power conversion rate in their double layer solar cell, with the material retaining 80% of its initial capability after 1,000 hours of continuous illumination.
Researchers at Linköping University have discovered a quantum phenomenon that influences the formation of free charges in organic solar cells. Vibronic coherence contributes to photocurrent generation and can be used to increase efficiency.
Scientists at ITMO University have developed a new method to increase the efficiency of solar cells and light-emitting diodes by augmenting their auxiliary layers with carbon dots. This approach has led to significant improvements in efficiency, with increases of up to 13% for perovskite-based solar cells.
The study reveals that zero-point vibrations can significantly reduce open-circuit voltage and efficiency in organic solar cells. By understanding the relationship between molecular properties and macroscopic device properties, researchers can develop novel materials to overcome these limitations.
Researchers at New York University develop guidelines for optimal band gap values in wide-band gap semiconductors for efficient underwater use. Various materials, such as organic and alloys, are shown to be suitable for deep waters, potentially extending the range of autonomous submersible vehicles.
Researchers from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology discovered a way to inhibit side reactions in perovskite solutions, leading to improved stability, efficiency, and reproducibility of solar cells. A low-boiling-point stabilizer, triethyl borate, was found to be effective in stopping unwanted reactions.
Researchers at NREL developed a new formula to boost perovskite solar cell longevity and efficiency by suppressing light-induced phase-segregation. The tandem perovskite/silicon solar cell achieved an efficiency of 27%, outperforming existing silicon-based cells.
Researchers at NIST identified acetic acid as a prime suspect in accelerating the degradation of polyamide-based backsheets, which are common in solar panels. The study highlights the importance of interplay between solar panel components in determining their longevity.
Researchers at UNIST have developed flexible and transparent solar cells that can absorb reflected light, increasing their efficiency. The new solar cell structure takes advantage of the theoretical light absorption mechanism to recycle reflected light, enabling it to maintain over 95% initial efficiency even after bending tests.
Scientists have created an ultrathin organic solar cell with a high energy conversion ratio of 13% and long-term storage stability. The research used a simple post-annealing process to increase durability, achieving both efficiency and longevity.
Researchers have successfully created translucent solar cells with a high efficiency level of 12.2%, solving issues of flexibility and transparency. The development paves the way for integrating solar cells into everyday infrastructure, such as energy-generating vehicles and buildings made from glass.
Researchers from the University of Toronto and KAUST have created a highly efficient and stable tandem solar cell by combining perovskites with silicon. The tandem solar cell achieved an efficiency of 25.7% and was stable for over 400 hours at high temperatures.
Researchers at CU Boulder have developed a low-cost solar cell with one of the highest power-conversion efficiencies to date by layering perovskite cells on top of silicon cells. The new technology increases efficiency by up to 27% and is more affordable than current silicon-based cells.
Researchers at Kyoto University have improved the efficiency of organic solar cells by targeting the molecular backbone of the power-generating layer. The new design approach increased the excited state duration of the electron-accepting component, converting over 70% of light particles into current. Further modifications to the molecu...
Researchers from ETH Zürich found that single-family households with behavioral change can achieve total self-sufficiency by 2050. However, multi-family buildings require advancements in photovoltaic technology to reach the same level of energy independence.
Researchers from Uppsala University have developed new indoor photovoltaic cells that can harness and convert indoor light into electricity, enabling self-powered IoT devices.
Researchers successfully combined graphene with tandem perovskite-silicon solar cells to achieve efficiencies of up to 26.3%, almost doubling the efficiency of pure silicon. This new approach enables large-area solar panels with reduced production costs.
Researchers at KAUST have discovered a way to boost the efficiency of long-lived inverted perovskite solar cells, achieving record-certified efficiency of 22.3 percent. The innovative approach involves adding long-chain alkylamine ligands during production, which enhances stability and reduces boundary defects.
Researchers developed a new material technology to create high-efficiency perovskite solar cells using eco-friendly organic materials dissolved in peppermint oil or walnut aroma. The new polymers overcame the instability issue of conventional perovskite solar cells, maintaining 88% efficiency after 30 days.
Developed by NREL and NIU researchers, the technique prevents toxic lead from leaking into water when perovskite solar cells are damaged. The additive layers reduce lead toxicity without affecting cell performance.
Researchers developed a new organic photovoltaic cell with an efficiency of 17%, achieved through optimized chemical structures and improved processability. The study demonstrates the potential for larger-area production, expanding the field of organic photovoltaics.
Researchers at Brown University found that perovskite films crack easily but can be healed with compression or moderate heat, which could improve durability and long-term reliability for commercialization
A new approach to electrostatic layer deposition has been reported, leading to efficient perovskite solar cells. The technique produces uniform electron transport layers without the need for a vacuum environment, enabling the creation of high-efficiency solar cells with improved power-conversion efficiencies.
Researchers from ITMO University have proposed a technology for manufacturing high-efficiency solar cells based on A3B5 semiconductors integrated on a silicon substrate, which may increase the efficiency of existing photovoltaic converters by 1.5 times. The new technology could lead to more effective and affordable solar energy solutions.
A new study models the potential of semitransparent organic solar cells to power greenhouses, finding that many can become energy neutral in warm or temperate climates. The technology allows greenhouses to generate energy from unused light while minimizing impact on plant growth.
A new study outlines a roadmap for perovskite-based solar cells to gain traction in the global market. Starting with higher-value niche markets, manufacturers can avoid steep initial capital costs and gradually expand production capabilities.
Researchers developed a regioselective bay-functionalization method to synthesize PDI-based acceptor materials. This approach lifts the LUMO level, reducing energy offset for charge separation and non-radiative recombination loss in organic solar cells.
A new consensus statement has been established to assess and report the stability of perovskite photovoltaic devices. The agreement aims to improve reproducibility in studies by providing a set of testing procedures specific to this technology, including light-dark-cycling and intrinsic stability testing.
Researchers have developed anti-solar cells that can harness power from infrared radiation at night, offering a potential solution for balancing the power grid around the day-night cycle. The devices work by emitting light instead of absorbing it, using different materials and physics.
Researchers at MIT and NREL propose slimming down silicon cells to reduce costs and increase manufacturing capacity. By reducing wafer thickness from 160 micrometers to as little as 40 micrometers, the study suggests a significant reduction in material usage and potential savings.
A new production technique for CdTe material uses a high-pressure furnace and produces high-purity crystals in a rapid timeframe, outperforming current methods. The technique also eliminates concerns about explosions and allows for easier doping of the material.
A recent study found that perovskite solar cells absorb lead from the environment, with lead from these cells being ten times more bioavailable than from other industrial sources. This could have significant implications for the safety of these materials.
The CSU team aims to improve the performance of cadmium telluride solar cells by tackling efficiency problems associated with the back contact layer, currently a bottleneck in widespread adoption. They hope to achieve a 25% light-to-energy efficiency with an improved back contact architecture.
A series of five-year tests measured solar panel performance, providing data for better error correction factors and choosing the most efficient panels. The results highlight a simple data aggregation method that yields reasonable results without bias.
Researchers have created BaZrS3 thin films with strong light absorption and good charge transport, making them ideal for photovoltaics and LEDs. The new materials could lead to more efficient solar panels and lower energy costs.
KAUST researchers have devised a way to turn rigid silicon into solar cells that can be stretched by up to 95 percent while retaining a high solar energy capture efficiency of 19 percent. This breakthrough overcomes the rigidity limitation of silicon, allowing for flexible wearable electronics and robots.
Researchers have improved the efficiency of organic solar technologies by tweaking the underlying chemistry, boosting power output from 1% to 18%. The new approach uses non-fullerene acceptors, which can be shaped, colored, and semi-transparent, offering advantages over traditional silicon-based solar cells.
A new material synthesized by Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) Lithuanian scientists can form a molecular-thick electrode layer, enabling highly efficient perovskite single-junction and tandem solar cells. The material is cheap, scalable, and forms good contact with perovskite material.
Associate Professor Menglin Chen's team has created a light-controlled neural stimulating scaffold inside the body using nanofibers coated with photovoltaic nanomaterials. This non-genetic method can locally stimulate cells electrically and has shown regenerative effects on neural model cells.
A new thermodynamic formula reveals bifacial cells can generate 15-20% more sunlight to electricity than monofacial cells, taking into consideration different terrain and surfaces. The formula helps companies design more efficient next-generation solar cells.
Researchers at NREL successfully integrated aluminum into their HVPE reactor and demonstrated the growth of semiconductors aluminum indium phosphide (AlInP) and aluminum gallium indium phosphide (AlGaInP). This breakthrough could lead to cheaper solar cells with comparable efficiency to MOVPE-grown ones.
Researchers at the University of Central Florida used machine learning to optimize perovskite solar cell materials, enabling flexible and efficient energy production. The study's findings have the potential to revolutionize energy usage and storage.
Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) have discovered a flaky material that improves the performance of organic solar cells. The material, made from tungsten disulfide flakes, enhances the cell's ability to gather holes and reduces resistance, leading to higher efficiency.
Scientists developed flexible and efficient transparent solar cells with colour-neutrality using silicon microwires embedded in a polymer matrix. The devices demonstrate transparency of up to 55% and excellent flexibility, making them promising for future transparent solar cells.
Researchers in Korea have developed a strategy to transform opaque solar cells into transparent ones, allowing for more efficient energy harvesting. The transparent solar cells have a high-power conversion efficiency of 12.2 percent and long-term stability, making them ideal for turning windows into solar panels.
Researchers at Tallinn University of Technology have improved the efficiency of monograin layer solar cells by replacing copper with silver in absorber material. This innovation increases efficiency by 2%, making it an attractive solution for renewable energy production.
Engineers at Lehigh University have mapped the energy transport mechanism of chalcogenide perovskite, a promising material for solar energy generation. The research demonstrates tunability, essential for its potential applications.
Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science discovered a carrier multiplication process in 2D semiconductors that could improve the efficiency of solar cells. The phenomenon is more efficient in 2D materials than in bulk semiconductors and has the potential to increase the maximum power conversion efficiency up to 46%
A research team at Kanazawa University investigated the molecular mechanisms behind organic solar cell damage from sunlight. They found that UV light causes fragile molecules to degrade, leading to reduced efficiency. This study may lead to the development of more robust and efficient solar cells.
Researchers have developed ternary organic solar cells with non-fullerene electron acceptors or polymer donors, improving spectral response and photon-harvesting capabilities. The addition of these third components enhances energy and charge transfer, leading to increased efficiency and potentially semi-transparent solar cells.
Researchers at OIST have characterized the structural defects that prompt ion movement in perovskite materials, which can destabilize the device. The study's findings may inform future engineering approaches to improve perovskite solar cells' performance and stability.
Scientists from NTU and UG have developed a method to identify the best pairs of materials in next-generation perovskite solar cells, which can capture more electricity. The new technique uses extremely fast lasers to observe how an energy barrier forms when perovskite is joined with a material that extracts electrical charges.
Arizona State University received five prestigious Department of Energy awards totaling $9.8 million to advance solar energy research and development. The funding will support projects to lower solar electricity costs, boost manufacturing, and make solar systems more resilient.
A new solar power generator prototype developed by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and US research teams will be deployed on a NASA flight to the International Space Station. The compact system could provide unprecedented watt per kilogram of power, critical to lowering costs for private space flight.
Researchers at Lund University have found that 30% of energy in certain light-absorbing iron molecules disappears unexpectedly. To improve efficiency, they aim to close this loophole by exploring methods for extracting all the energy from these molecules.
A new type of perovskite material eliminates lead and improves stability for next-generation solar cells. These materials have been shown to be as much as 28% efficient compared to current panels capturing only 15-18%. The new organic-inorganic hybrid structure also offers a blueprint for other functional hybrid materials.
Scientists at Cambridge discovered that perovskite materials can be more efficient when their chemical compositions are less ordered, simplifying production processes and lowering costs. This is achieved by creating areas with different compositions that trap energized charge carriers, improving solar cell efficiency.
Rice University scientists have overcome a major hurdle keeping perovskite-based solar cells from achieving mainstream use by engineering defects and retaining efficiency. They replaced lead with indium, resulting in cells that can be made in open air and last for months.
Scientists visualize grain structure of perovskite crystals without damaging solar cells, revealing misorientation as primary contributor to strain buildup. The discovery enables researchers to explore strategies to reduce or eliminate non-radiative recombination, a major efficiency-dampening factor in next-gen solar cells.
Researchers at Michigan State University have developed a new approach to detect and attack cancer cells using light-activated fluorescent dyes. The breakthrough utilizes technology traditionally reserved for solar power, offering promising results in breast, lung, and skin cancer cell lines and mouse models.