Articles tagged with Photovoltaics
Researchers at Imperial College London have developed a new material, sodium bismuth sulfide (NaBiS2), that can absorb comparable levels of sunlight as conventional silicon solar cells but with 10,000 times lower thickness. The material has potential for making lightweight solar cells suitable for aerospace applications.
A team of researchers from TU Wien and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has developed a 'light trap' that absorbs light perfectly in thin layers. This method uses mirrors and lenses to steer the light beam into a circle and then superimpose it on itself, preventing the light from escaping.
A homemade microspectrometer invented by Dr. Jamie Laird enables scientists to image defects in perovskite solar cells, improving stability and efficiency. This innovative technique has the potential to revolutionize next-generation photovoltaics, including space missions.
KAUST researchers created a more efficient solar-cell module by redesigning its optical design, reducing power conversion efficiency loss in real-world applications. The new module achieved an efficiency increase from 25.7% to 26.2% due to refractive-index engineering.
A research team from the University of Göttingen has observed the build-up of dark Moiré interlayer excitons for the first time using femtosecond photoemission momentum microscopy. This breakthrough allows scientists to study the optoelectronic properties of new materials in unprecedented detail.
GIST scientists create a new method to produce OSCs using zinc oxide that overcomes scalability issues without compromising PCE. The new technology uses sputtered ZnO and a ZnO nanoparticle layer obtained through blade coating, resulting in high conversion efficiencies.
Researchers have developed a method to create colorful solar panels by applying a thin layer of photonic glass, which reflects selective colors based on microscopic zinc sulfide spheres. The new technology results in energy efficiency improvements of up to 21.5% while maintaining color and durability.
Researchers have found a new method to process formamidinium-based perovskite films, relieving limitations by using ammonia treatment. This approach enables the creation of highly uniform films with improved power conversion efficiency.
Researchers at Surrey's Advanced Technology Institute have developed a renewable and rechargeable battery prototype that can charge smart wearables in just seconds using sunlight. The system, which combines zinc-ion batteries with perovskite solar cells, enables wearables to operate continuously without plug-in charging.
Inserting magnesium fluoride between perovskite and electron-transport layers reduces charge recombination and enhances performance, leading to a 50 millivolt increase in open-current voltage and a stabilized power conversion efficiency of 29.3 percent.
University of Arizona researchers Erin Ratcliff and Roger Angel are working on scaling paper-thin solar technology using perovskites. They aim to develop a low-cost quality control method to detect defects during manufacturing, enabling the production of robust and high-quality perovskite-based photovoltaics.
Cubic boron arsenide overcomes silicon's limitations, providing high electron and hole mobility and excellent thermal conductivity. The material has been shown to have a significant potential in various applications where its unique properties would make a difference.
Scientists at KIT create a prototype for fully scalable all-perovskite tandem solar modules with an efficiency of up to 19.1 percent, enabling commercial viability through optimized light paths and established industrial coating methods.
A recent study found that perovskite-on-silicon solar PV modules have 6-18% less environmental impact than traditional silicon modules over their 25-year lifetime. The tandem technology's higher power conversion efficiency compensates for its additional material and production costs.
Swansea University's nanomaterials researcher, Professor Christian Klinke, has secured £250,000 in funding to recruit early-career scientists. The new appointments will strengthen the research group's focus on nanocrystalline materials used in solar cells and LEDs.
A team of researchers at Osaka University measured the photovoltaic properties of antimony sulfiodide:sulfide devices and discovered a novel effect. They found that changing the color of incident light from visible to ultraviolet induced a reversible change in output voltage, while leaving current unchanged.
The study achieved an efficiency of nearly 25 percent, surpassing previous values, by combining perovskites with CIS. The hybrid material enables the production of light and flexible tandem solar cells suitable for various applications.
Scientists from the University of Surrey have created a method for producing high-quality, low-cost solar cell building blocks using perovskite ink. This breakthrough could pave the way for widespread adoption of perovskite-based solar panels, which are more efficient and lighter than traditional silicon cells.
Researchers at the University of Surrey have made a breakthrough in producing more efficient solar panels by focusing on the chemistry of perovskite materials. The new method, developed in collaboration with other institutions, increases efficiency and stabilizes energy deficiency over time.
Scientists at NREL have developed a tin-lead perovskite cell with a 25.5% efficiency, outperforming previous records by several hundred hours. The new cell uses additives to improve carrier lifetime and reduce defect density, leading to enhanced stability and voltage generation.
Ritsumeikan University researchers create a novel thin-film flexible piezoelectric-photovoltaic device that can generate electricity from indoor lighting. The device's performance is improved through strain-induced polarization in the ZnMgO layer, increasing open-circuit voltage and overcoming charge recombination issues.
Researchers at the University of Chicago have invented a new type of porous solar cell that can power medical devices, including pacemakers. The innovative technology reduces the size of bulky batteries and eliminates the need for high temperatures or toxic gases in production.
Researchers have discovered a way to create devices that mimic natural photosynthesis, producing fuels like hydrogen instead of sugars. The breakthrough uses bismuth oxyiodide, a non-toxic semiconductor material that can produce clean hydrogen from water over weeks.
Researchers have developed a single-cell PV design integrated with nonreciprocal optical components to provide 100-percent reuse of emitted radiation, breaking the Shockley–Queisser limit. This breakthrough enables a quasimonochromatic radiation converter to reach the theoretically maximum Carnot efficiency.
Researchers developed a hot-carrier multijunction solar cell that maintains high conversion efficiency with nonoptimal materials, expanding the scope of candidate designs. The novel architecture showed superior resilience to design imperfections, widening the range of suitable materials and operating conditions.
Scientists at TU Wien have developed a new photocatalyst design that can split water into hydrogen and oxygen using sunlight. This process, called photocatalytic water splitting, has the potential to produce environmentally friendly 'green hydrogen' with higher efficiency than traditional electrolysis methods.
A team of engineers and biologists at the University of Surrey created nanoparticles that mimic chlorophyll's light-absorbing properties with high efficiency. The new approach shows promise for future high-efficiency solar panels, potentially ditching toxic materials used to maintain intensity.
Researchers propose a novel gravitational-based storage solution using lifts in tall buildings to store energy. The system, called Lift Energy Storage Technology (LEST), stores energy by lifting wet sand containers or other high-density materials.
Scientists discovered that tiny defects in perovskites, cheaper alternative materials for solar cells, also cause structural changes leading to degradation. By controlling the formation of these detrimental phases, researchers can improve performance and stability of devices, bringing them closer to commercialization.
Researchers at NREL developed a triple-junction solar cell with unprecedented performance, reaching 39.5% efficiency under 1-sun global illumination. The new design uses quantum wells to modify solar properties and has a simpler structure for various applications.
Australian researchers have developed a device that can generate electricity from thermal radiation using technology similar to night-vision goggles. The team successfully tested a 'thermo-radiative diode' capable of converting infrared heat into electrical power, with the potential to harness solar energy at night.
Researchers at Linköping University have identified the key to minimizing energy losses in organic solar cells. By studying the energy level alignment at donor/acceptor interfaces, they discovered a systematic mapping that points to new ways forward for developing more efficient and sustainable solar cell materials.
A new method for creating key components of solar cells, X-ray detectors, and LEDs uses water to control the growth of phase-pure perovskite crystals. This approach allows for precise tuning of crystal structures at room temperature.
Researchers at Ritsumeikan University in Japan have developed a new method to fabricate cadmium-free thin-film solar cells with improved energy conversion efficiency. The process replaces toxic materials with native buffer layers formed through air-annealing, reducing waste and increasing the potential for large-scale manufacturing.
Researchers have developed a system that harnesses energy from sunlight to power small devices, making it ideal for off-grid situations. The innovative device uses non-toxic algae to generate electricity continuously without running down like traditional batteries.
Sandia researchers have designed a reliable and resilient microgrid for NASA's Artemis lunar base, which will sustain astronauts, mining, and fuel processing. The system utilizes distributed energy resources like solar panels and wind turbines, with a focus on efficient power management and scalability.
Researchers have developed a new protocol for testing perovskite solar cells, which are radiation-hard and durable enough for use in space. The study found that perovskites are more resistant to damage from radiation than previously thought, making them suitable for applications such as lunar installations and satellite missions.
Scientists have successfully developed lead-free bismuth halide perovskites with broadband emission, overcoming toxicity and instability issues of traditional lead-based materials. The new material exhibits high efficiency and stability, paving the way for potential applications in artificial lighting and displays.
Researchers developed a portable desalination unit weighing less than 10kg that removes particles and salts to generate clean drinking water. The device uses ion concentration polarization and electrodialysis processes, requiring minimal energy and maintenance.
A new study by UC Berkeley scientists finds that solar photovoltaics can provide sufficient power for extended Mars missions, outperforming nuclear fusion reactors in over 50% of the planet's surface. This breakthrough provides a more practical solution for long-term human settlements on Mars.
Researchers from UC Berkeley found that a photovoltaic array using compressed hydrogen for energy storage can efficiently power human missions on Mars. The system beats out nuclear power across about 50% of the Martian surface.
Researchers have developed perovskite solar cells with improved efficiency and stability thanks to the addition of ferrocene layers. The devices can now reach 25% efficiency, approaching traditional silicon cells, and maintain over 98% of their initial performance after 1,500 hours.
Scientists at KAUST have studied charge carrier behavior in perovskite thin films using laser pulses and terahertz radiation. They found that increased density of charge carriers narrows the energy gap for electrons to be excited by light, and charge carriers become more localized at higher densities.
A new machine learning-based system developed by MIT and Stanford researchers enables the rapid development of optimized production methods for perovskite-based solar cells. The system has already led to the manufacturing of cells with an energy conversion efficiency of 18.5 percent, a competitive level for today’s market.
Researchers at the University of Cologne and the University of Wuppertal have developed a tandem solar cell that achieves an unprecedented 24% efficiency, outperforming previous records. The innovative design combines organic and perovskite-based absorbers with an indium oxide interconnect to minimize losses.
Researchers at MIT and NREL have designed a thermophotovoltaic cell that converts heat to electricity with over 40% efficiency, surpassing traditional steam turbines. The new design could enable a fully decarbonized power grid by storing excess energy from renewable sources.
Researchers at Kyoto University have developed a new type of organic solar cell that generates electricity efficiently even with a relatively low offset of 0.1 eV. This breakthrough offers a promising solution for the production of more efficient and flexible solar panels, potentially reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.
Researchers propose a novel pathway to realizing hot carrier solar cells, which can exceed the typical efficiency limit on solar cells. The approach involves isolating hot carriers within higher energy valleys in semiconductors, reducing energy loss to heat.
Researchers developed a photovoltaic cell that harnesses energy from temperature differences between the cell and surrounding air, generating 50 milliwatts per square meter at night. The device avoids need for batteries and can be incorporated into existing solar cells, making it suitable for remote locations with limited resources.
Researchers developed a full-function bioelectronic photocell using genetically modified proteins attached to a carbon nanotube. The system can change its electronic properties in response to light, operating as a spotlight or memory cell. This discovery opens the door to environmentally friendly electronic elements, memory devices, an...
This special issue of Energy Material Advances highlights recent progress in synthesizing and tuning perovskite nanocrystals and other emerging nanocrystal materials. Research focuses on fundamental understanding of doping, synthesis, and spectroscopy, as well as applications in solar cells and light-emitting diodes.
Researchers at the University of Surrey have developed a new design for ultra-thin photovoltaic panels that absorbs over 65% of sunlight, outperforming previous records. The innovative honeycomb structure enables efficient light absorption from any angle, trapping light inside the solar cell and generating more energy.
Researchers developed tiny sensor-carrying devices inspired by dandelion seeds to monitor environmental conditions like temperature and humidity. The devices can travel up to 100 meters on a breeze, share data wirelessly up to 60 meters away, and power themselves using solar panels.
Researchers found that a common surface treatment creates an electron-rich surface that destabilizes the perovskite solar cells, leading to degradation. A new method using positively and negatively charged ions resolves this issue, allowing for more stable solar cells with up to 87% efficiency retention.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new system that can automatically clean solar panels without using water, reducing dust accumulation's impact on efficiency. The system uses electrostatic repulsion to detach dust particles, improving overall power output and potentially saving $200,000 in annual revenue.
Researchers develop NAnocrystalling Transport path in Ultrathin dielectrics for REinforcing passivating contact to overcome surface passivation and conductivity tradeoffs. The new contact consists of three-layer structures made up of silicon nanoparticles sandwiched between two layers of oxygen-rich SiOx.
Researchers at KAUST developed a multilayered perovskite-based film that shields high-performance solar cells from extreme heat and moisture while boosting their long-term stability. The 2D perovskite capping layer improves the resistance of unsealed devices against thermal stress and moisture.
Researchers improve solar cell performance predictions by analyzing terahertz and microwave spectroscopy data, enabling more accurate assessments of material quality. This advancement can quickly test new semiconducting materials for their potential suitability.
Scientists in Saudi Arabia developed a solar-driven system that uses hydrogel to condense water from air while generating electricity. The system successfully grew spinach in a hot climate, producing over 2 liters of water and 1,519 watt-hours of electricity.
Researchers have successfully combined perovskite with silicon in a tandem cell, achieving an efficiency of 21.3%. The team estimates the PCE to be 29.5%, with potential for further improvement through surface optimization.