Articles tagged with Photovoltaics
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.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin identify microvoids as a source of 10-15% degradation in amorphous silicon thin film solar cells. The discovery is part of the EPR-Solar network funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research.
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab researchers present on topics including improved climate models, synthetic biology for better biofuels, emerging materials for photovoltaics, and efforts to detect Dark Matter. The presentation highlights the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and exploring innovative solutions.
Micro-machining enables the creation of almost flat Fresnel lenses that significantly increase solar panel efficiency. The new design allows for a more precise focus of incident light, resulting in a four-fold increase in peak power compared to traditional panels.
Researchers develop method to create long, twisting fibers that assemble themselves at the microscale, growing complex shapes and exhibiting unique properties. The new technique uses epoxy and can be instantly reversible, making it a promising technology for applications like batteries, photovoltaic cells, and sensors.
Researchers at the University of Houston and Universite de Montréal have developed a new theoretical model that may improve the efficiency of solar cells. The model explores quantum-mechanical effects in polymeric semiconductors, which could lead to more efficient materials with blends of semiconducting polymers and fullerenes.
The symposium highlights two promising lines of research: unlocking natural diversity in maize genomes to secure global food supplies, and applying nanotechnology to improve renewable energy efficiency. Researchers from TUM and international partners present recent advances in these fields.
A new approach to harvesting solar energy could improve efficiency by using sunlight to heat a high-temperature material whose infrared radiation is then collected by a conventional photovoltaic cell. The technique makes it possible to take advantage of wavelengths of light that ordinarily go to waste.
Scientists from EPFL investigated how generated electrical charges travel across perovskite surfaces of solar cells built with different architectures. The results showed two main dynamics: charge separation through electron transfer at sub-picosecond timescales, and significantly slower charge recombination for titanium oxide films.
A team of researchers from North Carolina State University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences has found an easy way to modify a commonly used polymer in solar cells to increase efficiency. The modification resulted in a significant boost in energy harvesting, with some solar cells showing a 36% improvement over similar polymers.
Cancer immunotherapy emerged as a major scientific breakthrough in 2013, with promising results from clinical trials. Researchers have also made significant advances in genome-editing techniques and vaccine design strategies.
Researchers have observed the rapid formation and separation of charges in organic nanostructures, governed by quantum mechanics. This discovery takes them closer to mimicking photosynthesis and developing efficient organic solar cells.
Researchers have created a new ceramic material that can harness energy from visible and infrared light, not just ultraviolet light. The material has shown significant improvement over today's classic ferroelectric material, absorbing six times more energy and transferring a photocurrent 50 times denser.
A team of researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Central Florida has developed a way to create large sheets of nanotextured, silicon micro-cell arrays that are lightweight, more efficient, and bendable. This technology could lead to solar-powered homes with reliable stored energy.
Researchers at DESY's PETRA III facility watched organic solar cells degrade in real time, revealing a mechanism of degradation that involves growth and receding of active domains. The study could lead to new approaches for increasing the stability of this promising type of solar cell.
The Ruhr-University Bochum researchers developed a bio-based solar cell using photosystem 1 and 2 proteins, generating an efficient electron current. The bio-based solar cell boasts an efficiency of several nanowatts per square centimeter, making it a potential blueprint for semi-artificial and natural cell systems.
Scientists used rediscovered Apollo data to determine lunar dust accumulation rate, finding it builds up 10 times faster than previous estimates. The high rate poses a significant problem for solar cells, which could diminish power supply output.
A recent study published in Nature Chemistry shows that singlet fission can be controlled by interacting molecules, leading to a doubling of current in solar cells. The researchers used laser experiments and chemical methods to slow down the process and observe key intermediate steps.
A new solar cell design featuring copper electrodes has surpassed traditional heterojunction cells in efficiency without special equipment or expensive materials. The innovative approach could disrupt the solar industry by reducing costs and increasing production capabilities.
Researchers from Penn and Drexel have demonstrated a novel solar cell construction method, which may improve energy absorption efficiency and reduce manufacturing costs. The discovery is based on a material exhibiting the bulk photovoltaic effect, allowing for more efficient harvesting of visible light.
The University of Texas at Arlington has been awarded $49 million in grants from the National Science Foundation for sustainable chemistry and engineering projects. Researchers Fred MacDonnell and Qiming Zhang are working on converting carbon dioxide to methanol using solar power and developing more efficient solar cell technologies.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London discovered that high-frequency vibrations in pop and rock music enhance energy generation in solar cells, increasing efficiency. The study, published in Advanced Materials, suggests a new potential for printed solar cells to generate electricity from sunlight.
SmartLight, a new technology developed by UC researchers, uses electrofluidic cells to channel sunlight into buildings, reducing energy consumption and emissions. The system can be controlled wirelessly via a mobile app, adjusting brightness according to user preferences.
A new multi-terminal multi-junction architecture for inexpensive PV electricity generation has been proposed by Clemson University researchers. This design aims to exceed current efficiency limitations of 25% using silicon solar cells and thin-film materials abundant in Earth's crust.
The ASU group, in collaboration with Georgia Tech, has developed a new approach to growing InGaN crystals, promising to move photovoltaic solar cell technology toward record-breaking efficiencies. The technique, called metal-modulated epitaxy, allows for the growth of ideal crystals with uniform composition and lattice alignment.
Researchers from the University of York and St Andrews have created a new structure called a quasi-random structure, which combines the advantages of quasi-crystals with periodic structures to achieve highly efficient broad-band light trapping in thin films.
Researchers have fabricated an optimal organic solar cell with high transparency and efficiency, promising affordable, clean renewable energies. The cells can be integrated into buildings, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and advancing towards a greener environment.
Scientists have developed a new solar panel design that improves efficiency by up to 22% using aluminum studs, which bend and trap light inside the absorbing layer. This technology has the potential to make thin and flexible solar panels available at competitive prices, powering everything from domestic appliances to portable electronics.
Researchers created a heat-resistant thermal emitter that can convert heat into infrared light, enhancing the efficiency of solar cells. The new material remains stable at temperatures up to 2500 F, surpassing earlier prototypes.
Researchers have discovered that graphene remains its conductive properties even when coated with silicon, a breakthrough for transparent solar cells. The study shows that the embedded graphene layer has a carrier mobility roughly 30 times greater than conventional zinc oxide-based contact layers.
Berkeley Lab researchers have developed a unique graphene liquid cell that enables the study of soft materials, including DNA and biological compounds. They have recorded the 3D motion of DNA connected to gold nanocrystals using transmission electron microscopy.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new connection between stacked solar cells that can handle high-intensity solar energies without losing voltage. This breakthrough could improve the overall efficiency of solar energy devices and reduce production costs.
A study reveals that China's dominance in solar panel manufacturing is driven by larger-scale production and supply-chain benefits, not just cheaper labor. Future innovations in crystalline solar cell technology may help equalize prices by enhancing access to materials and expanding manufacturing scale across regions.
A Drexel-led team of researchers has developed a new method to measure the band offset in nanoscale devices using laser-induced current spectroscopy. This breakthrough enables the design of more efficient and effective nanoscale components, such as solar cells, LEDs, and high-speed electronics.
Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed a new method for creating inexpensive and easily manufactured nanoparticle-based solar cells using phosphorus and zinc. The team's innovative approach could make solar power more accessible to off-grid communities and reduce costs by up to half.
The 3D NanoChemiscope enables simultaneous analysis of mechanical and chemical properties in three dimensions, revolutionizing surface analysis. By combining a scanning force microscope and high-end mass spectrometer, researchers can study the composition and structure of surfaces with unprecedented precision.
Researchers at Michigan Technological University have developed a new material, 3D graphene, that can replace the expensive metal platinum in dye-sensitized solar cells. The new material shows high conductivity and catalytic activity, converting nearly 8% of sunlight into electricity.
Empa scientists developed a new method to increase the efficiency of flexible CdTe solar cells on metal foil by using copper doping. The study achieved efficiencies up to 13.6% and 11.5%, exceeding previous records, with the goal of reaching 20% in the future.