Articles tagged with Photovoltaics
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A group of scientists from the US used atomic-resolution Z-contrast imaging and X-ray spectroscopy to analyze two types of dislocations in CdTe, a binary II-VI semiconductor. The study could lead to improved conversion efficiency in CdTe solar cells and advance understanding of crystal structure defects.
Harvard University researchers demonstrate ability to paint ultra-thin coatings onto rough surfaces using thin-film interference, enabling lightweight decorative logos on spacecraft. The technology also holds promise for making flexible electronic devices and advanced solar cells.
A research team led by Alejandro Briseno has developed a new polymer architecture that mimics the structure of blades of grass to improve the efficiency of organic solar cells. The breakthrough solves a major problem with energy transfer and has widespread applications for solar cells, batteries, and transistors.
Scientists at EPFL have created a method to convert sunlight into hydrogen using perovskite solar cells and nickel-iron catalysts, achieving an impressive 12.3% efficiency rate. This innovative approach eliminates the need for rare-earth metals in producing usable hydrogen fuel, paving the way for efficient energy storage and conversion.
A team led by Nina Mahmoudian has created a tabletop model of a robot team that can bring power to places in need. The robots can link up power cords and batteries to light or set flags, operating independently to choose the shortest path and avoid obstacles.
Researchers at MIT and Harvard University have found a way to render excitons immune to defects, improving photovoltaic devices' efficiency. The team used topological protection to create excitons that move only on the surface of materials, governed by applied magnetic fields.
Researchers at UChicago and Argonne National Lab developed a new polymer that enhances the efficiency of solar cells. The addition of PID2 improved the production of electricity by allowing charges to move more easily throughout the cell.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a new type of organic solar cell that can use virtually any metal for the electrode, effectively breaking the 'electrode barrier'. The new design allows for improved electron transport efficiency and reduced work function, making it more efficient and cost-effective.
The new epitaxial system produces up to 500 wafers per hour, reducing wafer cost to 13 cents per watt and potentially making solar energy more competitive with fossil fuels. The technology has the potential to create American jobs and stem the flow of solar cell manufacturing overseas.
Scientists create doped graphene nanoribbons with nitrogen atoms, enabling directional electronic current flow and solving scaling issues. The development allows for the transfer of ultra-narrow graphene ribbons onto non-conductive materials, paving the way for future graphene-based electronics.
Researchers at MIT have developed a solar-powered desalination system that can provide clean drinking water to villages in India. The system, which uses electrodialysis technology, is more energy-efficient and cost-effective than traditional reverse-osmosis systems.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a new route to making graphene through intercalation, allowing for the creation of single-layer sheets without damaging the layers. This breakthrough could lead to easier and more efficient production of graphene for various industrial applications.
A Northwestern University research team has created a new type of CNT solar cell that absorbs more sunlight, increasing efficiency by a significant margin. The polychiral CNT mixture is able to capture a broader range of solar-spectrum wavelengths, including near-infrared light.
The research team has found that larger surface areas of cells lead to reduced performance, but can be overcome by building modules with smaller cells connected in series or parallel. They have also developed a new automatic structuring technique to connect cells without damaging the substrate.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have observed ultrafast charge transfer in MX2 materials, a new family of 2-D semiconductors. The recorded charge transfer time is comparable to the fastest times for organic photovoltaics, opening up potentially rich new avenues for photonics and optoelectronics.
Researchers have developed a semi-artificial leaf that outperforms natural photosynthesis, achieving higher photocurrents and electron transfer rates. This breakthrough enables the development of cheaper and flexible solar cells for various applications, including micro-sized medical devices.
A team of researchers has developed a method to determine the absolute value of charge formation efficiency in organic photovoltaic cells, enabling high-throughput screening of materials. The technique, combining two types of spectroscopy, reveals a high charge formation efficiency even at low temperatures.
A system proposed by MIT researchers recycles materials from discarded car batteries to produce long-lasting solar panels, providing emissions-free power. The production process uses a compound called perovskite, which has achieved power-conversion efficiency of over 19 percent.
Researchers at UMass Amherst develop a water-based method to control molecular assembly of nanoparticles, reducing the need for toxic solvents and increasing efficiency. The new technique enables faster, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly production of organic photovoltaics and other electronic devices.
NREL's breakthroughs in silicon solar cells and ultra-efficient supercomputers have been recognized by the R&D Magazine with two prestigious awards. The innovative growth system produces thin solar cells at half the cost and 100 times the speed of conventional epitaxial reactors.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have created a semiconductor structure consisting of two ultra-thin layers, tungsten diselenide and molybdenum disulphide, which exhibits excellent optoelectronic properties. This material has the potential to be used in future low-cost solar cells with improved efficiency and flexibility.
Scientists at MIT and Saudi Arabia have created a new system to make surfaces active, using external fields like magnetic fields to exert precise control over particle movement. This technology could enable new biomedical or microfluidic devices and self-cleaning solar panels.
Researchers have developed a self-cooling method for solar cells using silica glass to reduce overheating, improving efficiency and lifespan. The design enhances infrared 'window' through Earth's atmosphere to redirect excess heat away from the solar cell.
A team of scientists in China has developed a new type of perovskite solar cell that does not use a hole-transportation layer, showing high efficiency and stability. The innovation reduces production costs and paves the way for a cost-effective branch of development in this type of solar cell.
Researchers developed an ab initio method to study hot carriers in semiconductors, providing data for hot carrier dynamics in silicon and other materials. The method found that thermalization under solar illumination is completed within 350 femtoseconds, dominated by phonon emission from hot carriers.
Researchers have discovered a process called singlet fission that can increase solar cell efficiency by as much as 30 percent. This breakthrough has the potential to make solar cells more energy-efficient and widely adoptable.
A domestic research team created a carbon material without artificial defects, maintaining graphene's characteristics, and developed a simpler production process. The new method can mass-produce high-quality graphene substitutes for solar cells and semiconductor chips.
Researchers have determined how light beams excite chemicals in solar panels, producing charge. The findings open avenues for future research into designing more efficient solar cells.
A new type of infrared photodetector has been proposed, featuring a nanoporous ZnO/n-Si structure that exhibits a double peak in transient photovoltage decay under near-infrared pulsed light irradiation. The device's photoresponse is highly sensitive to slight changes in laser pulse energy.
A University of Liverpool researcher has discovered that magnesium chloride can replace cadmium chloride in solar cell technology, reducing costs and toxicity by up to 98%.
The GOES-R satellite's solar array provides a stable platform to track the sun's movement, powering critical instruments like EXIS and ABI. The advanced spacecraft will result in more timely and accurate weather forecasts, enhancing public safety and economic health.
A new study suggests that concentrating solar power (CSP) can provide a substantial amount of current energy demand, particularly in the Mediterranean region. CSP systems can store energy as heat and convert it to electricity only when needed, making them more viable for large-scale energy production. The study also found that CSP coul...
Researchers have developed a simple way to etch nanoscale spikes into silicon, allowing more than 99% of sunlight to reach the cells' active elements. The new process reduces costs associated with solar cell production and increases efficiency.
Empa researchers have developed a microstructure that gathers sunlight on the photoelectrode surface, allowing it to absorb all the energy in the beam. This innovative structure is inspired by the eyes of moths, which collect as much light as possible while reflecting as little as possible.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have designed a new class of solar-sensitive nanoparticles that can improve solar cell efficiency and air stability. This breakthrough could lead to cheaper and more flexible solar cells, as well as better gas sensors and other optoelectronic devices.
A team of German and Italian researchers captured the first real-time movies of light-induced electron transfer in organic solar cells. The findings suggest that the quantum-mechanical nature of electrons and their coupling to nuclei is crucial for charge transfer, with potential implications for optimizing device efficiency.
Researchers at NIST have created a new laser-based instrument that simulates sunlight across a broad spectrum, allowing for accurate testing of solar cell properties and potential efficiency boosts. The instrument uses optical-fiber amplifier technology to boost power and a photonic crystal fiber to broaden the spectrum.
A new study found that solar panels made in China have a higher overall carbon footprint and require more energy during manufacturing compared to those made in Europe. The difference is largely due to China's lower environmental and efficiency standards, as well as its reliance on coal-based electricity.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories are gathering data on consumer motivations to develop sophisticated computer models for predicting solar purchase dynamics. The project aims to increase the nation's share of solar energy in the electricity market by 2030.
NREL honored Principal Engineer Bhushan Sopori with the Distinguished Innovator Award for his leadership in solar energy research. The lab also recognized Rising Stars, including Kirstin Alberi, Arrelaine Dameron, and Gregg Beckham, who have made significant contributions to technology transfer and commercialization.
Northwestern University researchers have developed a new solar cell with good efficiency that uses tin instead of lead perovskite. The low-cost, environmentally friendly solar cell can be made easily using 'bench' chemistry.
Researchers at EMPA have developed a water-based method for applying transparent conductive oxide (TCO) films, reducing energy consumption and costs. The new process uses molecular self-organisation to grow the TCO film without high-temperature thermal treatment.
Researchers at the University of Illinois developed multilayer, microscale solar cells that can operate across the entire solar spectrum at exceptionally high efficiency. The technology enables quadruple-junction four-terminal solar cells with individually measured efficiencies of 43.9 percent.
Researchers have discovered that chlorine atoms replace tellurium atoms within grain boundaries, creating local electric fields that boost photovoltaic performance. This finding could guide engineering of higher-efficiency CdTe solar cells.
Researchers at NREL have discovered a new solar material, perovskite, that can generate electricity more efficiently than previous materials. The material has a unique ability to diffuse photons a long distance, making it suitable for low-cost and high-efficiency devices.
Researchers are designing ultrathin solar cells with photovoltaic nanostructures to increase efficiency and reduce material costs. These nanostructures behave like a molecular hall of mirrors to trap photons inside the cells.
Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory and University of Milano-Bicocca have developed large-area luminescent solar concentrators using 'Stokes-shift-engineered' quantum dots. These concentrated solar cells can generate significant power from sunlight, enabling the creation of transparent photovoltaic windows.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have discovered that tiny step edges on titanium oxide surfaces enable the accumulation of electrons, allowing oxygen atoms to attach more strongly. This finding offers opportunities for creating more efficient solar cells and catalysts.
Computer simulations suggest that co-locating crops with solar panels could reduce water usage for solar farms in sunny, arid regions. Agave plants, which thrive at high temperatures and poor soil, are being considered as ideal crops for this approach.
Researchers at NC State University found that organic solar cell efficiency improves when donor and acceptor molecules are aligned face-on, rather than edge-on. This alignment enables favorable charge transfer interactions, reducing recombination and increasing power generation.
Researchers created a patterned polymer material based on moth eyeballs that can eliminate glare from solar panels and electronic displays. The material also repels liquids and keeps grime in raindrops, solving issues with neighbors' solar panel spats and military detection.
Researchers in France have developed a new technique for studying solar panel absorber materials, which could lead to non-toxic and readily available alternatives. The technique involves resonant diffraction of single crystals, allowing for the creation of high-quality material samples.
Researchers have developed perovskite solar cells that excel at absorbing and emitting light, with a remarkable 70% efficiency rate. These 'wonder cells' can also produce cheap lasers, opening up new applications in telecommunications and light-emitting devices.
Engineers have developed a multilayered waveguide taper array that can absorb light across different frequencies, boosting the efficiency of solar power and thermal energy recycling. This technology has potential applications in stealth technology and waste heat recycling.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a novel solar cell architecture based on dense arrays of coaxial p-n junction InGaAs nanowires on InAs stems grown directly on graphene. The resulting ternary InGaAs NW arrays demonstrate a conversion efficiency of 2.51% under air mass 1.5 global solar illumination, representing ...
Researchers at Umeå University have developed a method to engineer carbon nanotube networks into complex architectures, significantly improving charge transport and reducing material costs. This breakthrough is expected to accelerate the development of flexible carbon-based solar cells.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have created the world's thinnest solar cells using tungsten diselenide, a material that can absorb light and convert it into electrical power. The ultrathin layers exhibit high transparency and efficiency, making them suitable for flexible displays and glass facades.
Researchers at Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences envision a device that harnesses energy from Earth's infrared emissions into direct-current power. The proposed technology, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could provide a new source of renewable energy.
Researchers at NC State University developed a 'superabsorbing' design that improves light absorption efficiency of thin film solar cells by decreasing semiconductor material thickness. The design, which looks like an onion, can absorb up to 90% of available solar energy using just a 10nm thick layer of amorphous silicon.
Researchers focus on nanoscale innovations to enhance solar energy systems, leading to improved energy conversion efficiency and reduced costs. Nanotechnology advances could lead to the development of more efficient photovoltaic devices.