Articles tagged with Photovoltaics
Prof Dr Oana Cojocaru-Mirédin has been awarded a Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) to study grain boundaries in crystalline materials, with potential benefits for cost-effective thin-film solar cells and new technologies.
A standardized testing protocol has been developed to evaluate the efficiency, flexibility, and mechanical performance of flexible photovoltaic devices. The protocol focuses on measuring efficiency over 1,000 bending cycles, providing a benchmark for evaluating these devices in real-life conditions.
Scientists develop high-performance Sb2S3 solar cells using additive engineering, achieving record-breaking 17.55% efficiency under 1000 lux illumination. The innovation enables sustainable power for IoT devices and holds promise for environmental-friendly energy harvesting.
Optical cooling has been elusive due to challenges in reaching high emission efficiency, but researchers shed light on the phenomenon using a stable 'dots-in-crystal' material. The study demonstrated true optical cooling with a theoretical cooling limit of approximately 10 K from room temperature.
Researchers developed a new amidinium-based coating that extends the life of perovskite solar cells, tripling their T90 lifetime and doubling their stability. The coated cells achieved a record-breaking 26% efficiency and withstood harsh conditions for up to 1,100 hours.
Rice engineers create a new thermal emitter that achieves efficiencies of over 60% despite practical design constraints, opening possibilities for more sustainable industrial processes and renewable energy growth. The technology could inform the development of grid-scale alternative storage solutions and power space applications.
Researchers at the University of Surrey have developed a strategy to improve both the performance and stability of perovskite-based solar cells. By introducing an iodine-reducing agent, they increased the efficiency and extended the lifespan of the devices.
Researchers from the University of Cordoba developed a model to test agrivoltaic integration, finding that joint activities can lead to greater combined productivity. The study shows that photovoltaic plants and hedgerow olive groves can coexist and even benefit each other, with solar collectors generating more energy while shading cro...
The BRIDGE Program offers immersive five-week training in photovoltaic installation, covering components and safe installation. The program aims to increase employment opportunities and better understanding of clean energy among Native American women, addressing the underrepresentation in the solar industry.
A new hole-transport material facilitates charge transfer and demonstrates high charge mobility in perovskite solar cells. However, the devices show reduced current due to an energetic barrier at the perovskite/HND-2NOMe interface, hindering performance.
Researchers from Kyushu University successfully promoted singlet fission by introducing chirality into chromophores, achieving high SF efficiency in aqueous nanoparticles. This breakthrough enables applications in energy science, quantum materials, and photocatalysis.
Researchers at North Carolina State University developed a new method to visualize interfaces in organic solar cells, revealing design rules to improve efficiency. The study found that sharp donor-acceptor interfaces are key to reducing voltage losses.
ICFO researchers have reported on a post-deposition in situ passivation strategy that improves surface passivation, yielding nanocrystal ink films with enhanced optoelectronic properties. This approach has led to the development of ultrathin solar cells with higher power conversion efficiency than their multi-step deposition counterparts.
Researchers analyzed a thermophotovoltaic system paired with phase-change materials for energy storage and found slight reductions in costs. The study identified key factors affecting TPV system costs, highlighting the need for future research to improve adoption and efficiency.
Scientists have experimentally demonstrated the bulk photovoltaic effect in a promising material, enabling certain materials to outperform conventional p–n junctions used in solar cells. This advancement signals a promising development for future solar cell technologies and photosensors.
Computer simulations point the way towards better solar cells by gaining crucial insights into what influences properties of 2D perovskite materials. Researchers have discovered that the choice of organic linkers can directly control how atoms in surface layers move, affecting optical properties.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have developed a new fabrication technique for perovskite solar cells, achieving power conversion efficiencies over 25% and 95% efficiency after 2,000 hours. This simplification makes industrial production more cost-effective and paves the way for more reliable and efficient solar cells.
The system removes salt from water at a pace that closely follows changes in solar energy, maximizing the utility of solar power. It produces large quantities of clean water despite variations in sunlight throughout the day, making it an attractive solution for communities with limited access to seawater and grid power.
Researchers developed a new AI model that predicts optical properties across a wide range of light frequencies using only a material's crystal structure as input. This enables highly precise predictions, making it suitable for screening materials for high-performance solar cells and detecting quantum materials.
A new study estimates that cool roofs could have saved up to 249 lives in London during the 2018 record-setting hot summer. If widely adopted, cool roofs would reduce the city's ambient temperature by about 0.8 degrees C on average.
Researchers at KAUST have developed a new cooling system that extracts water from the air using gravity, eliminating the need for electricity. The system can double the rate of water collection compared to alternative technologies and offers significant energy savings.
Researchers have made breakthroughs in hot carrier solar cells by studying electron tunneling and collection, increasing generation and extraction. The study revealed that a new system comprising AlGaAs and GaAs materials can harness valley photovoltaics and realize solar cells beyond the current single bandgap limits.
Researchers from Osaka University have synthesized a new molecule that increases the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells. The molecule's design reduces exciton binding energy, making it easier to convert sunlight into current. This breakthrough paves the way for high-performance and large-scale photovoltaic applications.
A team of GIST researchers developed a new defect passivation strategy for polycrystalline perovskites, leading to improved power conversion efficiency and long-term operational stability. The strategy uses a chemically identical polytype of perovskite to suppress defects in the crystal structure.
The study predicts light transmission, absorption, and power generation of different PV materials, enabling the selection of optimal materials for agrivoltaics. By carefully tuning the 'colour' of light transmitted through semi-transparent PVs, researchers can enhance crop growth while generating solar power.
Researchers propose a leaf-inspired luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) design to overcome scalability limitations. The innovative setup enhances photon collection and transfer, improving efficiency and reducing self-absorption issues.
Researchers at HKUST have developed a novel chiral-structured interface in perovskite solar cells, significantly enhancing reliability and power conversion efficiency. The new design retained 92% of its initial efficiency after 200 cycles, demonstrating improved durability under various conditions.
A research team at City University of Hong Kong has developed next-generation printable perovskite solar cells with higher efficiency, stability, and lower production costs. These cells can be manufactured using a 'printing' process, reducing energy consumption and processing steps compared to traditional silicon-based solar cells.
Researchers estimate that installing solar panels on highways could generate 17,578 terawatt-hours of electricity per year, equivalent to more than 60% of the world's total energy consumption. This could reduce carbon emissions by up to 28% and improve road safety through shielding cars from inclement weather.
Researchers at HKUST developed a molecular treatment that enhances perovskite solar cells' efficiency and durability. The breakthrough identified critical parameters for halide perovskites, leading to high open-circuit voltages and remarkable operational stability.
Researchers at Chung-Ang University have discovered an additive that enhances the efficiency of perovskite solar cells, resulting in a record-breaking 12.22% efficiency. The additive, 4-phenylthiosemicarbazide, improves stability and reduces defects, paving the way for more accessible and long-lasting solar panels.
Researchers at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) develop materials to improve indoor photovoltaic cells, generating electricity even in low-intensity light. The innovation utilizes Internet of Things technologies to efficiently regulate device operation and optimize energy consumption.
A new framework enables efficient calculation of optimal solar panel and battery sizes for residential neighborhoods, making it feasible to achieve net-zero energy houses. The approach leverages linear programming transformations to overcome computational challenges, demonstrating that ZEH status does not significantly elevate costs.
A new living passivator has been developed to improve the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells. The coating can dynamically heal defects caused by environmental stressors like water and heat, improving operational stability for over 1,000 hours at high temperatures.
Researchers have developed low-cost micro-sized silicon anodes from recycled photovoltaic waste using a novel electrolyte design. The new anodes exhibit remarkable electrochemical stability, maintaining an average coulombic efficiency of 99.94% after 200 cycles. This breakthrough addresses the major challenges facing micro-sized silico...
A team of researchers from the University of Kansas has discovered a microscopic mechanism that explains why a new class of organic semiconductors outperforms others. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient solar cells and photocatalysts for producing solar fuels, revolutionizing the clean energy sector.
A new study finds that cool roofs are the most effective way to cool cities like London, with a potential reduction of 1.2-2 degrees C in outdoor temperatures. In contrast, green roofs and street-level vegetation have negligible net cooling effects.
Physicists have developed a new analytical model that sheds light on how thin-film solar cells achieve optimal efficiency. The study reveals a critical balance between collecting electricity and minimizing losses due to recombination.
Researchers are developing solutions to recycle solar panels and recover strategic metals like silver and copper, reducing waste and creating jobs.
Researchers at Rice University have made a breakthrough in synthesizing formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) perovskite solar cells into ultrastable, high-quality photovoltaic films. The overall efficiency of the resulting FAPbI3 solar cells decreased by less than 3% over 1,000 hours of operation.
Researchers at WVU are exploring the potential of solar panels to generate energy on grazing lands, diversifying farmers' income streams and promoting more sustainable practices. The study aims to understand how dual-use solar systems impact soil health and animal performance.
A new computer vision technique developed by MIT engineers significantly speeds up the characterization of newly synthesized electronic materials. The technique automatically analyzes images of printed semiconducting samples and quickly estimates two key electronic properties: band gap and stability.
Researchers developed an innovative scheduling system for electric vehicles that enhances power grid efficiency by synchronizing charging with peak solar energy production times. The system reduces energy loss, prevents power outages, and minimizes the impact of EV charging on the grid.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new thermophotovoltaic cell that can recover significantly more energy from heat batteries, increasing efficiency to 44%. The device uses air bridges to trap photons with the right energies, allowing for the recycling of useless photons and improving overall performance.
A team at the University of Córdoba has developed a methodology that defines cultivable space between two-axis photovoltaic modules for agrivoltaic production. The model reveals 74% of land is cultivable by crops less than 1.4m high, offering a sustainable energy and agricultural solution.
Researchers at Universität Leipzig have found a way to drive electric currents with light even when the material has minimal absorption. This breakthrough reveals the properties of 'Floquet Fermi liquid' states, which can display spectacular properties like superconductivity.
A new study found that affordable solar panels are being used in rural Ethiopian villages, offering a healthy alternative to kerosene lamps and supporting education. However, uncertified panels break easily and lack maintenance support, creating environmental pollution.
Researchers from Lehigh University have developed a material that promises over 190% quantum efficiency in solar cells, exceeding the theoretical limit for silicon-based materials. The material's 'intermediate band states' enable efficient absorption of sunlight and production of charge carriers.
Researchers at Linképing University have developed a digital display screen where LEDs react to touch, light, fingerprints, and the user's pulse, among other things. The screen can also be charged through the screen due to its ability to act as solar cells.
A Washington State University-led study found that widespread, extreme temperature events can capture greater solar radiation and higher wind speeds to help power grids. This analysis suggests using more renewable energy at these times could reduce strain on grids during increased energy demand.
Researchers have developed an organic photovoltaic film that is both waterproof and flexible, enabling a solar cell to be used on clothes without compromising performance. The breakthrough film retained up to 96% of its initial performance after being submerged in water or stretched beyond its limit.
A tandem approach for better solar cells involves combining perovskite-based photovoltaics with traditional silicon to minimize losses and increase efficiency. The technology has shown promise in laboratory settings but faces significant practical challenges, including reliability and scalability issues.
Researchers at Kaunas University of Technology developed a new material for perovskite solar cells, which exhibits better power conversion efficiencies and operational stability. The material, synthesised through polymerisation, can be used in both regular and inverted architecture solar cells.
Researchers have developed a new method to visualize the quantum mechanical wave function of excitons in organic semiconductors. This understanding is essential for developing more efficient materials with organic semiconductors. The technique, known as photoemission exciton tomography, provides insights into the behavior of excitons i...
A comparative study assesses options for mass production of perovskite solar cells, revealing the potential of vacuum-based processes. Vacuum vapor-phase deposition outperforms solvent-based manufacturing in terms of energy costs and material efficiency.
A Dartmouth Engineering-led study discovered a new high-performance solar absorber material that is stable and earth-abundant. The researchers used a unique high-throughput computational screening method to evaluate approximately 40,000 candidate materials, leading to the discovery of the Zintl-phosphide BaCd2P2.
A team of UCF researchers has received a $1.5 million grant from the US Department of Energy to develop a novel metallization process for solar cells. The goal is to increase efficiency and lower production costs, making solar energy more accessible.
Scientists created a method to study variations in power output from solar PV plants over time, accounting for distinct power fluctuations across different geographical areas. The grid integration challenge arises when including variable renewable energy sources like wind and solar into the power grid.
A team of researchers from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology has developed an innovative Bayesian optimization scheme to optimize the performance of silicon heterojunction solar cells. The approach, known as constrained BO, combines three prediction models to determine optimal deposition conditions for catalytic chemic...
The National University of Singapore (NUS) team engineered a new cyanate-integrated perovskite solar cell that achieves a certified world-record power conversion efficiency of 27.1%, surpassing other multi-junction solar cells. The triple-junction perovskite/Si tandem solar cell remains stable and efficient even after extended testing.