Articles tagged with Photovoltaics
Boston College researchers successfully harvested elusive charges using ultra-thin solar cells, opening a potential avenue to improved solar power efficiency. The team developed a mechanism able to extract hot electrons in the moments before they cool, effectively opening an escape hatch for these highly energized particles.
David Bocian, a professor of biophysical and materials chemistry at UCR, is leading a research project to develop more efficient solar cells using natural photosynthetic systems. The goal is to create flexible, cost-effective solar cells that can be integrated with textiles.
Researchers at Monash University have developed a new way to increase the output of next-generation solar cells, achieving a three-fold increase in energy conversion efficiency. The breakthrough uses a new, more efficient type of dye that enables the operation of inverse dye-sensitised solar cells.
The researchers used photolithography to define shapes on a thin film of single-crystalline silicon, then applied water droplets to direct self-assembly. The resulting structures offer mechanical bendability and promise efficient solar energy harvesting with thin films.
Researchers develop method to study and control energy transfer pathways in molecules, enabling faster identification of efficient photovoltaic materials. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and cheaper solar cells.
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered that adding silver nanoparticles to plastic boosts electrical current generation in polymer semiconductors, increasing efficiency. The new fabrication technique allows for a wider range of wavelength absorption, promising advancements toward commercially viable solar cells.
Researchers at Cornell University created a simple solar cell using a single-walled carbon nanotube, which converts light to electricity in an extremely efficient process. The device produces more electrical current with higher levels of photon energy.
A K-State chemist is studying two photosynthetic complexes from a type of bacteria to develop artificial photovoltaic devices that convert sunlight into electricity. The research aims to advance the understanding of structure-function relationship in natural systems.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a new method to produce lower-cost solar cells using nanoparticle inks that can be printed like newspaper or painted onto surfaces. The goal is to reduce production costs by one-tenth, making solar energy more competitive with fossil fuels.
Researchers at NIST have advanced understanding of organic films in solar cells, revealing ways to control their formation and optimize performance. By changing electrode surface properties, they reduced barriers between polymers and fullerenes, improving photocurrent and reducing accumulation of fullerenes.
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research is working on airborne solar cells using flexible films and transparent conductive electrodes. These cells have shown promise in powering small aircraft, and the team hopes to develop large, flexible DSSCs with higher energy conversion efficiency.
Researchers at the University of California - Los Angeles have developed a low-cost solution processing method for CIGS-based solar cells, which could provide an answer to manufacturing issues. The new method has already shown improved efficiency levels and potential for cost reduction.
Researchers at SRNL are investigating nanostructured coatings to enhance the efficiency of solar cells by reducing reflection. These coatings have shown promise in mimicking nature's ability to absorb light, with potential applications in commercial, home-based, and space-based solar cells.
The new flexible solar cell technology installed at McMaster University's bus shelter generates up to 4.5 Watts of power from two solar strips with 720 one-centimetre square cells each. The system captures sunlight during the day and recharges batteries to light the shelter for a significant part of the night.
The Aerospace Corporation successfully tested the latest generation of high-efficiency solar cells on a 6.4kg nanosatellite, transmitting 17MB of data during its 110-day mission. The satellite's performance was characterized as successful, with improved communication links and valuable insights into solar cell degradation.
Researchers at Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology are developing laser technologies to improve the manufacturing of solar cells, increasing their performance and reducing costs. The goal is to achieve grid parity within a few years, making solar energy competitive without subsidies.
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research is funding a project to integrate solar power into UAV materials. Researchers aim to develop lightweight and compact drones with longer flight times using organic semi-conductor coated fibers.
A research team found that potassium ions strongly bound to the surface of titania nanotubes improve their performance in solar cells producing hydrogen gas from water. By controlling potassium deposition, engineers can achieve significant energy savings.
The USGS has developed an energy-efficient system to measure snowfall in remote areas of Maine, using a bucket, small windmill, and solar panels. This innovative solution helps predict floods from spring snowmelt and saves lives by providing accurate information.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a new way to create dye-sensitized solar cells using ancient diatoms, which can potentially triple the electrical output. The technology uses environmentally benign materials and works well in lower light conditions, offering advances in manufacturing simplicity and efficiency.
Researchers developed a surface treatment that increases light absorption by trapping light in three-dimensional structures and making the surfaces self-cleaning, allowing rain or dew to wash away dust and dirt. The treatment mimics the superhydrophobic surface of the lotus leaf, boosting photovoltaic cell efficiency by up to 2%.
Researchers are working to harness solar power more effectively, creating energy-efficient and durable light sources. The project aims to produce low-cost solar cells using printing techniques, with recent results showing promising 3% power conversion efficiency.
Researchers at Rice University have created a light-bending metamaterial using nanocups that can focus light from any direction. This material has potential applications in thermal solar power, superlenses, and invisibility cloaks.
A solar water-heating system has a payback period of just two years and effectively pays for itself five times over within its twenty-year lifespan. Researchers found that solar heating is 57% of the internal rate of return compared to electrical energy approaches.
The study found that average installed costs of US solar PV systems decreased significantly from $10.50 to $7.60 per watt between 1998 and 2007, with a 3.5% annual reduction in real dollars.
Researchers found a reversible diode made from the material, allowing current flow in one direction under certain conditions and in the opposite direction under different conditions. The material also generates current when light falls on it, making it a potential candidate for future solar cells.
Researchers at Iowa State University are working on a three-year project to improve the efficiency of thin film solar cells, with a goal of boosting efficiency to around 10%. The project aims to develop new silicon alloys and organic semiconductors for improved performance.
Researchers identify 12 abundant materials with potential to meet global energy demand, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional silicon-based solar cells. The study suggests that these new materials could significantly reduce the cost of solar photovoltaics and accelerate the transition to low-carbon energy.
Researchers at CSIRO Australia have developed smart fridges that can negotiate the most energy-efficient way to keep food cold, reducing electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The fridges work as a network, sharing energy provided by renewable sources like solar panels or wind turbines.
Researchers at U of T have made a groundbreaking discovery that could lead to more efficient organic solar cells, medical imaging techniques, and flexible electronics. The team found that quantum effects can control the movement of energy through molecules, enabling faster and more effective light absorption.
A team of scientists at NIST discovered that temperature can influence the competing processes of crystallization and dewetting in polymer films. This understanding could lead to better control of these processes, resulting in more stable and uniform films for applications like organic solar cells. The research also has implications fo...
Researchers have developed a new method to boost the efficiency of solar cells by using nanoparticles. By scattering light and improving color-specific capture, this approach could significantly improve sunlight conversion rates.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new method to produce and sort out double-walled carbon nanotubes, overcoming the challenge of sorting valuable tubes from other types. This breakthrough discovery has significant implications for advanced solar panels, sensors, and other renewable energy technologies.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new method for boosting the efficiency of solar photovoltaic cells by up to 50%. By applying antireflection coatings and complex reflective layer designs, they were able to increase the energy conversion rate. This breakthrough has significant implications for the future of renewable energy and could...
Scientists have made precise measurements of a key phenomenon in solar cells, shedding light on fundamental processes and paving the way for more efficient designs. The findings provide a crucial understanding of charge separation in chain-like structures.
Researchers at the University of Chicago have successfully induced slower cooling of electrons in nanocrystals, a breakthrough that could improve laser devices and photovoltaic technology. This effect is expected to increase bandwidth for communication satellites and lead to more efficient solar power generation.
A new technology has successfully tested tiny solar cells that can power microscopic machines, detecting chemical leaks and toxins. The organic polymer-based solar cells provide a promising renewable energy source for various applications.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed a measurement technique to map nanomaterials as they grow, enhancing material efficiency. The new method allows for faster discovery of optimal nanomaterial structures, leading to potential breakthroughs in solar panels and magnetic data storage.
A new method for overcoming two major hurdles facing solar energy has been discovered and demonstrated by researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The antireflective coating boosts the amount of sunlight captured by solar panels, allowing them to absorb the entire solar spectrum from nearly any angle.
Researchers are exploring alternative energy solutions and innovative approaches to medicine. Virtual reality technology is being used to create realistic 3D presentations on mobile devices, while a new method for measuring brain function during surgery could improve outcomes.
The new center will study active matter, which can move on its own, exhibiting properties previously observed in living materials like muscle and cells. Researchers will explore constraints on materials using DNA confinement and functioning cellular components like cilia.
University of Utah engineers have developed a new way to slice thin wafers of germanium for use in high-efficiency solar cells. The new method, wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM), reduces waste and breakage of the brittle semiconductor, making it more economical to produce such cells.
A new solar concentrator design developed by MIT engineers could significantly increase the efficiency of solar panels and reduce their costs. By using a mixture of dyes to concentrate sunlight, the system can boost electrical power obtained from each solar cell by a factor of over 40.
Researchers created a sophisticated method to turn ordinary glass into a solar concentrator, boosting solar panel efficiency. The technology uses dye-coated glass to collect and channel photons, reducing the need for semiconductor material and increasing energy output.
Lubchenko aims to crack the mystery of electrical phenomena in amorphous materials using 'old-fashioned' math, as direct computer modeling and existing theoretical approaches have been unsuccessful. His research could lead to affordable solar batteries and expand the speed and capacity of computer memory.
Researchers have achieved a record light conversion efficiency of 8.2% in solvent-free dye-sensitized solar cells, paving the way for large-scale outdoor applications. The development of an electrolyte mixture made from three solid salts replaces volatile organic solvents, making it possible to produce lightweight and inexpensive flexi...
Carbon nanotubes have been engineered to improve the properties of solar cells by introducing defects, resulting in increased catalytic activity and reduced costs. The new material has the potential to replace traditional layers used in solar cells, leading to improved performance and more affordable energy technologies.
New research from ACS Nano explores innovative applications of nanotechnology, such as increasing power conversion efficiencies in solar cells and targeting nanoparticles for gene delivery. The journal also discusses rapid toxicity evaluation methods and the use of nanotubes with nanomotors to enhance speed.
Researchers at Delft University of Technology have demonstrated the avalanche effect in semiconducting nanocrystals, which could lead to higher output and lower manufacturing costs for solar cells. The findings show that specific crystals can release two or three electrons per photon, potentially increasing output to 44%.
Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology and Fraunhofer Institute achieved an unprecedented 6% improvement in solar cell efficiency by depositing a thin layer of aluminum oxide on the front of a silicon solar cell. This breakthrough brings the industrial application of high-efficiency solar cells closer, with costs expected to...
Researchers at the University of Washington have created a dramatic improvement in dye-sensitized solar cells by using a popcorn-ball design, which manipulates light to convert solar energy into electricity more efficiently. The new approach doubles the efficiency of converting solar energy to electricity, outperforming previous records.
Researchers at Northwestern University have created semitransparent, highly conductive films from carbon nanotubes with improved conductivity and mechanical flexibility. These films mimic stained glass appearance and could lead to advancements in flat-panel displays, solar cells, and other energy-efficient technologies.
A Penn State researcher is developing solar cells with titanium dioxide nanotubes and organic semiconductors for efficient and low-cost large-scale solar energy conversion. The goal is to achieve photconversion efficiencies of 6-8% and commercialize the technology.
The Gamma-ray Large Area Telescope (GLAST) satellite is nearing its May 16th launch date as it prepares to provide electrical power with its newly attached solar panels. GLAST's twin solar panels will ensure continuous operation and enable the telescope to explore extreme environments in the universe.
PTL will test concentrator PV systems and work with manufacturers to certify products, develop warranty information, and measure up against industry standards. The goal is to fill a need for reliability tests, subjecting modules to extreme conditions to simulate operational lifetimes.
The University of Delaware's Institute of Energy Conversion will receive $3.75 million from the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar America Initiative to continue researching photovoltaic-based solar cells, aiming to produce high-efficiency solar cells and expand its expertise in new areas.
Researchers have developed a new type of solar cell that uses indoline dye and ionic liquid to improve efficiency. The cells achieve an energy conversion yield of 7.2%, a record for this type of cell, and could potentially lead to more affordable renewable energy.
Arizona State University has received two grants from the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar America Initiative to develop new materials for solar cells, aiming to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The grants will focus on exploring photovoltaic potential of new materials that were originally developed for laser applications.
The MIT Energy Initiative has partnered with Eni to develop novel photovoltaic materials and design solar power plants. The five-year collaboration will focus on six areas of research, including nano-structured thin film photovoltaics and water splitting.
The four-year project aims to make thin-film light absorbing cells for solar panels from sustainable and affordable materials, reducing costs by one millionth of a metre. Researchers will experiment with low-cost materials and nanotechnology to capture increased amounts of energy from the sun's rays.