Articles tagged with Photovoltaics
A team of scientists from Berkeley Lab and the University of Illinois created a solar cell that absorbs high-energy light at a 30-fold higher concentration than conventional cells. This breakthrough uses quantum dot light-emitters with spectrally matched photonic mirrors to efficiently utilize the high-energy part of the solar spectrum.
Penn State researchers are developing new, ultra-high efficiency photovoltaic cells using a novel tracking system to concentrate sunlight 400 times over. The goal is to create standard rooftop solar panels with competitive manufacturing costs and double the efficiency of existing solar panels in sunny regions.
Researchers have created a unique antenna that collects unused blue photons from sunlight, converting them into usable energy for silicon-based solar cells. This innovation has the potential to significantly increase solar cell efficiency, making them more affordable and environmentally sustainable.
A Brown University-led team has received a $4 million grant to study perovskite solar cells, aiming to improve efficiency and scalability. The researchers will focus on understanding the basic science behind these solar cells, developing new technologies, and investigating lead-free compositions.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed the world's first aqueous solar flow battery, which achieves a 20% energy savings over traditional lithium-iodine batteries. The new design combines a solar cell and a battery into a single device using a water-based electrolyte and a solid sheet solar panel.
Researchers at the University of Exeter have developed a new technique to make solar energy cheaper and more efficient by mimicking the v-shaped posture of Cabbage White butterflies. The study shows that by replicating this 'wing-like' structure, power-to-weight ratio can be increased 17-fold.
The University of Delaware research team aims to improve solar cells and medical imaging by changing the color of low-energy light into higher-energy colors. Their novel approach could lead to a significant boost in solar energy harvesting, with predicted efficiencies of up to 30%.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method to incorporate light-capturing nanomaterials into solar panels, increasing efficiency and reducing costs. This breakthrough could help meet the US goal of reducing solar electricity costs to 6 cents per kilowatt-hour.
A new study by Northwestern University and the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory found that perovskite solar modules have a significantly shorter energy payback time than existing options, with some models returning energy investment in just two to three months. The researchers also analyzed the environmental impa...
Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology have developed a novel solar fuel cell that produces hydrogen gas from liquid water using gallium phosphide nanowires. The yield is increased by a factor of ten, and the material usage is reduced to 10,000 times less.
Researchers have developed a novel imaging method to capture the 3D structures of nanocrystals, which could be used to fight cancer and collect renewable energy. The method reveals asymmetrical multi-domain structures in platinum nanoparticles.
Researchers have found that chlorine is depleted from the surface of perovskite absorber layers during processing, while its concentration near the interface with a titanium dioxide layer is higher. This distribution could help mitigate recombination and provide a template for growing the film.
EPFL scientists have developed a simple and inexpensive method to fabricate high-quality, efficient solar panels for direct solar hydrogen production. The innovative technique uses the boundary between two non-mixing liquids to produce an even dispersion of 2-D flakes, resulting in superior efficiency compared to other methods.
Researchers have successfully created graphene biosensors that can selectively bind to specific molecules, allowing for precise detection and control. This breakthrough enables the development of inexpensive 'lab-on-a-chip' devices for medical diagnostics, promising a significant impact on healthcare.
MIT researchers have created a new ultralow-power circuit that can harness more than 80% of the energy from tiny solar cells, enabling it to run for months without battery changes. The chip achieves this efficiency improvement while powering devices directly from batteries.
Researchers at KIT have created a novel solar cell using metal-organic framework compounds, demonstrating high efficiency in producing charge carriers and mobility. The material's photophysical properties are attributed to the formation of indirect band gaps, playing a crucial role in photovoltaics.
Researchers at TUM have successfully improved the electrical properties of printed films by optimizing the printing process, resulting in custom organic electronics. The team used X-ray radiation to study the curing process and achieved high time resolution, leading to significant improvements in stability and conductivity.
Researchers at RIKEN achieved a power conversion efficiency of 10% in polymer solar cells, bringing them closer to commercial viability. The key to their success lies in the optimized molecular orientation of the materials, which improves electron transport and enhances overall efficiency.
Researchers from Aalto University and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya have achieved a new record in black silicon solar cell efficiency at 22.1%, surpassing previous records by over 3%. The breakthrough is attributed to the application of a thin passivating film and integration of metal contacts on the back side of the cell.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab develop CLAIRE, a technique for noninvasive nanoscale imaging of soft matter. This allows for high-resolution observation of dynamics behind nano-sized components in biomolecules, accelerating the development of technologies such as artificial photosynthesis and photovoltaic cells.
Researchers have developed a novel inkjet printing process to produce high-efficiency kesterite solar cells with reduced material waste and lower toxicity. The process has already yielded solar cells with efficiencies up to 6.4%.
A team led by Shree K. Nayar has created a fully self-powered video camera that can produce an image each second indefinitely. The camera uses a pixel that measures incident light and converts it into electric power, eliminating the need for a battery.
A new study finds that photovoltaic panels outperform green roofs and white roofs in cold Canadian climate. Green roofs are the only option to reduce both heating and cooling energy use, while photovoltaic panels demonstrate high environmental performance across all impact categories.
Researchers have developed tandem photovoltaics that combine perovskite and silicon solar cells to achieve higher energy conversion efficiencies. This innovative design could give a boost to industrial solar cell efficiencies and provide a promising alternative to traditional silicon solar cells.
Researchers have developed a new tandem solar cell that combines two types of photovoltaic material to harvest a broader range of the sun's energy. The new cell achieves an efficiency of 13.7 percent, which could be improved to over 30 percent with low-cost modifications.
A team of chemists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has developed a method to precisely order molecules in organic glasses, leading to more efficient and durable portable electronic devices and potentially new generations of solar cells. This breakthrough could result in displays that produce more light using less energy.
Researchers at ICFO have successfully generated isolated attosecond pulses at the carbon K-edge, enabling real-time imaging of electronic motion in organic compounds and ultrafast devices. This breakthrough has significant implications for designing new materials and developing petahertz electronics.
A new method for making perovskite solar cells has been developed by researchers at Brown University, which involves a room-temperature solvent bath to create perovskite crystals. The technique produces high-quality crystalline films with precise control over thickness across large areas.
Researchers explain the causes of singlet exciton fission, a process that could double electrical current from blue and green light in solar cells. By understanding this mechanism, they may develop new materials to enhance solar cell efficiency.
Researchers at OIST discovered that growing Perovskite films in ambient air instead of a nitrogen atmosphere results in larger grain sizes, making solar cells more efficient. The study's findings could significantly reduce costs associated with climate control machinery.
Researchers at UC have made significant advances in harnessing solar power by developing more efficient solar cells using polymer materials. The new technology has increased the cell's efficiency by three-fold, making it a promising alternative to traditional silicon-based solar cells.
A new model developed by Iñigo de la Parra simulates power fluctuations in large grids of photovoltaic power stations, enabling operators to optimize energy efficiency and reduce costs. The model helps to comply with grid codes and provides a solution for companies setting up large-scale photovoltaic plants.
A team of researchers from the University of Luxembourg and TDK has improved a conductive oxide film to increase transparency in the infrared region, enabling solar cells to harness more sunlight. The breakthrough allows for stable films that retain conductivity after exposure to air for over a year.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin developed silicon micro-funnels that absorb light more efficiently than traditional nanowire arrays. The funnels improve solar cell efficiency without requiring special manufacturing processes.
A team of researchers has developed a new sizing system for hybrid photovoltaic panel/battery systems using fuzzy logic, which can determine optimal panel surfaces and battery capacity. The system was verified through simulations and demonstrated effectiveness in optimizing cost and losses.
Researchers found that adding magnetite nanoparticles increases the performance of polymer solar cells, allowing them to convert more incident light into electrical power. The addition of heavy elements enables a material conversion that prolongs the lifetime of electron-hole pairs, leading to higher efficiency.
Researchers at the University of Huddersfield have developed a new metrology system to detect tiny defects in thin films, crucial for printed electronics and solar panels. The NanoMend project aims to reduce cost and increase reliability of flexible PV cells, paving the way for wider adoption of renewable energy.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have created cheap solar cells from shrimp shells, using chitin and chitosan. The efficiency is currently low, but improving it could make them suitable for wearable chargers and other devices.
High-performance solar cells with a combination of materials like perovskite and spiro-MeOTAD are plagued by tiny pinholes, allowing water and gases to degrade the material. Researchers at OIST Graduate University believe these minuscule openings could be key to understanding the degradation of perovskite, leading to potential solutions.
Researchers have developed a hot-casting technique to grow large-area perovskite crystals, offering promising routes for low-cost, clean energy solutions. The technique yields highly efficient and reproducible solar cells with efficiencies approaching 18%, surpassing previous challenges in the field.
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a physical model explaining electron transport in nanocrystal solar cells, which could lead to improved efficiency. The model reveals that nanocrystal size can be controlled to optimize absorption of sunlight, enabling the creation of flexible and thin solar cells with higher performance.
Brian Gregg, a scientist at NREL, has been recognized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for his work on organic solar photoconversion and excitonic solar cells. His research has led to new technologies such as photoelectrochromic windows that can automatically adjust to light levels.
Researchers at the University of Exeter have identified a new material, perovskite, that can efficiently generate photovoltaic energy in various atmospheric conditions. This breakthrough has the potential to significantly reduce the costs of solar energy production.
Researchers develop a new technique to investigate the role of material structure on organic solar cell efficiency. They find that well-organized structures do not lead to higher free electron generation rates than disorganized ones.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory developed a method to create an antireflective surface on silicon solar cells using self-assembled nanotextures inspired by the structure of moths' eyes. The resulting surface reduces reflections and improves sunlight conversion, outperforming state-of-the-art coatings by up to 20%.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a novel perovskite-silicon tandem device that dramatically improves the overall efficiency of conventional silicon solar cells. The device achieves an efficiency boost of nearly 50% with relatively low cost, making it a promising solution for the renewable energy sector.
Researchers have discovered a highly sought-after material that can lead to vastly improved organic solar cell performance, increasing efficiency from 8% to 9.3%. The new discovery enables the production of cells that are double in thickness and opens up opportunities for the development of new materials with improved performance.
A team from Brookhaven National Laboratory and Columbia University has designed materials that can convert more absorbed light energy into useful electricity by producing two electrical charge carriers per unit of light. This approach enables easy manufacturing processes, including 'printing' solar-energy-producing material like ink.
Researchers at HKUST developed a novel nanobowl optical concentrator to enhance light trapping in organic photovoltaic devices. The device achieved a 28% improvement in power conversion efficiency, outperforming control devices without the nanobowl structure.
Richard DeBlasio, Sarah Kurtz and Suhuai Wei have been named as new NREL Research Fellows to advise on the strategic direction of science and technology research at the laboratory. They bring extensive expertise in renewable energy, photovoltaics and computational materials science.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has demonstrated a four-junction solar cell with a conversion efficiency of 45.7%, surpassing previous records in photovoltaic research. The new design uses lattice-mismatched materials to achieve high efficiency and is suitable for concentrator photovoltaic systems.
Researchers at Lund University used new tech to study fast solar cell processes, raising the efficiency limit to over 40%. Quantum coherence phenomenon allows for energy transfer with minimal obstacles, potentially revolutionizing solar cells.
Researchers designed networks that mimic natural forms to create efficient and durable optoelectronic devices, including solar cells and display screens. The designs improved electro-optical properties, showed high mechanical strength, and minimized light shading.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a new technology to absorb and utilize infrared light, often lost in traditional solar panels. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient solar cells and sensors that detect light using electrostatic potential.
UNSW researchers have successfully converted over 40% of sunlight into electricity, exceeding previous records. The breakthrough is made possible by a custom optical bandpass filter that captures wasted sunlight and converts it at a higher efficiency than commercial solar cells.
Researchers have invented a new way to spray solar cells onto flexible surfaces using colloidal quantum dots, improving efficiency and making it easier to manufacture. The spray-on solar cell technology has the potential to power three 100-Watt light bulbs or 24 compact fluorescents on a surface as large as a car roof.
Researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich develop a new method to examine light trapping in solar cells using near-field optical microscopy. They discover that the nature of nanostructures directly affects absorption rates and solar cell efficiency.
Researchers at Northwestern University found that Blu-ray discs' quasi-random patterns enhance solar cells' light absorption and performance by up to 21.8%. The discovery could lead to new manufacturing methods for efficient solar cells.
Researchers fabricated a new substance from atomic sheets that interlock like Lego toy bricks, offering potential for next-generation materials. The material, made of graphene and tungsten disulfide, combines the good properties of each component layer, enabling efficient solar cells and flexible electronics.
Researchers used a scanning tunneling microscope to create atomic-scale maps of quantum dot surface structures, pinpointing defect locations that limit device performance. This breakthrough should help manufacturers tweak synthesis processes to produce higher-quality nanomaterials for photovoltaics and other applications.