Articles tagged with Photovoltaics
Researchers developed a new method to capture and analyze individual cells from a small sample of blood using graphene oxide sheets. The system demonstrates high efficiency in capturing specific immune cells that are markers for certain cancers, with an estimated production cost of $5 per device.
The development of efficient luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) using silicon nanoparticles has the potential to create photovoltaic windows that can capture over 5% of the sun's energy at unprecedented low costs. The technology, developed by researchers from the University of Minnesota and University of Milano-Bicocca, uses silico...
Scientists from NREL found that surface recombination significantly affects the performance of polycrystalline perovskite solar cells. The study suggests that improving surface properties could lead to more efficient devices, with potential applications in photodetectors and light-emitting diodes.
Researchers have laid the foundations for a new type of photovoltaic cell that uses infrared radiation to generate electrical energy. The solid-state solar cell relies on polaron excitations, which combine electron excitation with lattice vibrations, allowing for more efficient energy conversion. By modifying and optimizing the materia...
Researchers have developed a new nano-sized semiconductor that concentrates visible light energy, increasing the efficiency of solar cells. This breakthrough doubles current efficiencies to at least 40%, offering benefits in energy efficiency and design.
Scientists at NREL developed a method to improve the stability and activity of photoelectrochemical water-splitting devices, which can produce hydrogen from sunlight. The new approach uses a bilayer of titanium dioxide and molybdenum sulfide to protect the photocathode from acidic solutions.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have directly measured the diffusion length of perovskite solar films, showing that electrons can travel long distances without deteriorating. The findings suggest that solar cells could be made thicker without harming their efficiency, potentially leading to better solar panels.
Researchers used bright X-rays to observe the one-step solution-coating process of perovskite material, identifying a crucial intermediate solid state. This discovery highlights the importance of solvent-solute interactions in halide perovskites, which significantly impacts film formation behavior and solar cell performance.
Researchers have discovered a way to overcome the limitations of 2D materials in photovoltaics by adding a plasmonic metasurface, increasing absorption and efficiency. This innovation has huge implications for the future of optoelectronics, potentially revolutionizing the marketability of devices.
Researchers found that small solar cells under the skin can generate enough power to fully charge pacemakers or extend their lifespan. This technology has the potential to reduce device replacements and size, saving patients discomfort and stress.
A new study has found that iodide-based perovskites produce a gaseous form of iodine during operation, causing further degradation of the material. The researchers suggest that developing new materials with reduced iodine concentrations or reinforced structures could help address this issue.
Researchers have developed environmentally friendly organic solar cells using nanomaterials, increasing efficiency and reducing toxic substances. Additionally, hybrid capacitors with enhanced storage capacity and faster charging capabilities have been created using nano-diamond composites, paving the way for more efficient energy stores.
Scientists have developed a graphene-based imaging system that can visualize tiny electric fields in liquids, allowing for precise imaging of electrical signaling networks in the heart and brain. The new method could aid in diagnosing diseases, developing lab-on-a-chip devices, and studying optoelectronics.
Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology developed a new type of solar cell using perovskite material. The addition of a thin layer of aluminum oxide improved the stability of the cell against humidity and increased its yield by 3%.
A simple electrical doping technique could reduce the cost of polymer solar cells and organic electronic devices, enabling new applications for these technologies. The new process enables efficient single-layer solar cells, potentially transforming wearable devices and small-scale distributed power generation.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales achieved a 12.1% efficiency rating for a 16 cm2 perovskite solar cell, making it the largest single certified with the highest energy conversion efficiency. The team has also demonstrated an 18% efficiency rating on smaller cells and plans to extend durability.
Scientists at the University of Surrey achieved record power conversion efficiencies for large area organic solar cells, outperforming traditional inorganic solar cells. The innovative cells can be printed in different colors and shapes, making them ideal for powering devices on-the-go, such as Internet of Things applications.
Researchers from Berkeley Lab developed a way to image thin-film solar cells in 3D using optical microscopy, revealing internal obstacles that can trap electrons and reduce efficiency. The method has already improved understanding of the benefits of treating CdTe solar cells with cadmium chloride.
Researchers at Australian National University have developed a new way to fabricate high-efficiency semi-transparent perovskite solar cells, which can improve the performance of conventional silicon solar cells. The new fabrication method could increase power output by up to 25% and achieve efficiencies of up to 30%.
Scientists have developed a new design for solar cells made from perovskite, achieving an average steady-state efficiency of 18.4%. The innovative tandem solar cell combines two types of perovskite into one photovoltaic cell, absorbing nearly the entire spectrum of visible light and outperforming traditional silicon-based solar cells.
Scientists at MIPT create ultrastrong material by applying high pressure to multiwall carbon nanotubes, forming bonds between them. The resulting material retains the durability of original nanotubes, making it suitable for harsh conditions.
Researchers from Stanford and Oxford have created a novel perovskite solar cell design that converts sunlight into electricity with an efficiency of 20.3 percent, rivaling silicon solar cells on the market today.
Researchers developed a new method to model microgrids using Hybrid Petri Net (HPN), allowing for efficient operation under various conditions. This analysis helps engineers estimate time and cost required for grid component switching, enabling improved microgrid design.
Researchers at NREL discovered a method to stabilize an all-inorganic perovskite material at room temperature, increasing its stability and efficiency. The new solar cells convert sunlight into electricity with 10.77 percent efficiency, surpassing other reported all-inorganic perovskite solar cells.
Researchers at UNIST developed a new type of organic solar cell that maintains up to 80% of its initial efficiency after 60 days in high-temperature conditions. The team used a macromolecular additive to improve and stabilize the device performance, yielding unprecedented power conversion efficiency.
Scientists at OIST Graduate University have developed a technique to visualize electrons in a material, allowing them to study the dynamic of electron movement and its effects on semiconductor devices. By creating a video of electron motion, researchers can now describe the phenomenon without interpreting data.
Scientists have made a significant advance toward more practical, environmentally friendly solar cells using inexpensive halide perovskite materials. The new cells have a power conversion efficiency of 15 percent and contain 60% less lead than traditional cells, representing a major step towards sustainable energy solutions.
Efficient organic solar cells have been created using a non-fullerene material, achieving high energy efficiency rates of up to 9.5%. This breakthrough indicates that the intrinsic limitations of organic solar cells are comparable to other photovoltaic technologies, paving the way for commercialization.
Scientists at Oxford University have developed a non-toxic solvent system that can be used to manufacture perovskite solar cells, overcoming a major barrier to their commercialization. The clean solvent quickly crystallizes perovskite films at room temperature, making it suitable for coating large solar panels.
Researchers developed a transparent metal electrode with improved efficiency, using fractal-like nano-features inspired by leaf veins. The new design combines low surface coverage and ultra-low resistance, surpassing conventional indium tin oxide layers.
Researchers at OIST have made significant breakthroughs in perovskite solar cells, improving efficiency, stability, and scalability. New post-annealing treatments and manufacturing methods have increased conversion efficiency to 18.4%, while discovering new decomposition products has led to the development of more stable materials.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new solar cell that combines two layers to harvest more of the sun's energy, reaching theoretical efficiencies above 40 percent. The device can be manufactured at a fraction of the cost due to a novel low-cost manufacturing process, making it ready for commercialization within the next year or two.
Researchers at MIT and SUTD used light to print 3D structures that can remember their original shapes after being stretched, twisted, and bent. The structures can be printed with micron-scale features and have potential applications in biomedical devices, soft robotics, and solar panel tracking.
Researchers from NIST discovered a 'sweet spot' for mass-producing polymer solar cells, exceeding 9.5% power conversion efficiency, without sacrificing performance. The findings suggest that high-volume production methods can yield efficient photovoltaic devices with greater structural variability.
Karlsruhe researchers created a new piggyback structure for metal-organic frameworks that enables photon upconversion, transforming low-energy photons into high-energy photons. This process has potential applications in solar cells and LEDs, increasing efficiency and reducing limitations.
A team of scientists has discovered a class of materials that can surpass the Shockley-Queisser limit, allowing for more efficient solar cell conversion. By using a barium titanate crystal, they were able to extract power from a small portion of the sunlight spectrum with higher efficiency than previously thought possible.
Scientists at ORNL discover the optimal ratio of selenium in cadmium-tellurium solar cells, increasing efficiency from 22% to near-theoretical levels. The alloy composition of 50% cadmium, 25% tellurium and 25% selenium performed best.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison have created high-performance, micro-scale solar cells that outshine comparable devices in key performance measures. The new, small cells capture current from charges moving side-to-side and generate significantly more energy than other sideways solar systems.
Researchers from Aalborg University have developed a heat-resistant device made of tungsten and alumina layers that can absorb sunlight across a broad spectrum, enabling more efficient energy conversion. The device can operate at high temperatures and absorb light from UV to near-infrared wavelengths.
Researchers at OU are developing novel technologies for next-generation solar cells with potential to increase global energy capacity and reduce fossil fuel dependence. They aim to control thermal losses and harness more of the sun's energy using 'hot' carrier solar cells.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have developed a solar cell that captures CO2 and sunlight to produce hydrocarbon fuel. The 'artificial leaf' technology solves two crucial problems simultaneously by converting atmospheric carbon dioxide into fuel, making it a game-changer for energy production.
Researchers found that moisture in the air enhances perovskite solar cells' performance by redistributing a dopant, increasing electric properties. However, prolonged exposure to moisture can be detrimental.
The researchers successfully created dye-sensitized solar cells with inkjet-printed photovoltaic dyes, achieving efficiency and durability comparable to traditional methods. The printed solar cells endured over 1,000 hours of continuous light and heat stress without degradation.
Researchers have made significant breakthroughs in perovskite solar cells by developing a hydrophobic conducting polymer that improves efficiency and stability without additives. The new cells retain high performance over two months in humid conditions, paving the way for commercialization.
Researchers at Lund University have measured the flow of solar energy within and between different parts of a photosynthetic organism, revealing more efficient routes for transporting energy. This basic research could lead to the development of more efficient solar cell technologies.
Researchers have identified a new organic molecule that converts a large amount of sunlight, enabling the development of stable solar cells with high efficiency. The new technology offers several benefits, including lower production costs and increased flexibility.
Researchers have developed a new type of two-dimensional layered perovskite with outstanding stability and more than triple the material's previous power conversion efficiency. The breakthrough involves flipping crystals during casting, eliminating a gap in electron flow that previously reduced efficiency.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab have discovered a possible secret to dramatically boosting the efficiency of perovskite solar cells, potentially increasing conversion rates up to 31 percent. The discovery involves exploiting the unique properties of facets on individual grains in the crystalline material.
Scientists have created a tiny, soft, and wirelessly functional biomaterial that can be injected into the body to stimulate nerve cells and manipulate muscle behavior. The material degrades naturally after a few months, eliminating the need for surgery.
Researchers at KIT replicated the structure of rose petal epidermal cells to improve light-harvesting and generate more power. The transparent replica integrated into an organic solar cell resulted in a 12% efficiency gain, making it a promising approach for future solar cells.
Researchers at ICFO have developed a solution-processed, semi-transparent solar cell based on AgBiS2 nanocrystals, which are non-toxic and abundant. The cells achieved power conversion efficiencies of 6.3%, competing with current thin film technologies, and offer potential as a low-cost alternative to traditional solar cells.
Researchers in South Korea have developed ultra-thin photovoltaics with a record-breaking flexibility, allowing them to wrap around small objects. The new method uses transfer printing instead of etching and produces flexible solar cells with a smaller amount of materials.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed a new generation of high-efficiency solar thermal absorbers using a tri-layer metasurface absorber. The system uses amorphous carbon as an interlayer between thin gold films, strongly absorbing light across the solar spectrum while minimizing emission of thermal radiation.
A new nanomaterial has been developed that is both transparent and highly conductive to electric current. The material, created through a cheap and simple method, has potential applications in roll-up touchscreen displays, wearable electronics, flexible solar cells, and electronic skin.
EPFL researchers have achieved the highest performance ever measured for larger-size perovskite solar cells, reaching over 20% efficiency. This breakthrough could lead to increased efficiency in hybrid solar panels that combine perovskites with silicon, potentially exceeding 30% efficiency.
Researchers at UC San Diego, MIT, and Harvard have engineered 'topological plexcitons,' energy-carrying particles that enhance exciton energy transfer, leading to improved solar cells and miniaturized optical circuits. The discovery provides a directionality feature for efficient energy distribution in nanoscale materials.
Researchers have developed perovskite solar cells with an average efficiency of 19.6% and a record-breaking aperture area of 1 cm2, overcoming scalability limitations. The new technique eliminates impurities and grain boundaries, resulting in highly oriented crystalline films.
University of Oregon scientists have synthesized a stable biradical compound with two free-flowing, non-bonding electrons. The molecule can change its bonding patterns to a magnetic state when heated, but returns to a fully bonded non-magnetic closed state at room temperature.
Researchers at Hokkaido University created all-solid-state solar cells that are highly durable and can efficiently convert sunlight into energy. The devices were made using atomic layer deposition and featured a gold nanoparticle antenna.
Researchers at ORNL have demonstrated a scalable method to produce semiconducting nanoparticles using bacteria-fed sugar at temperatures below 150 degrees Fahrenheit. This approach reduces production costs by approximately 90 percent compared to conventional methods, making it attractive for applications in electronics, displays, solar...