Articles tagged with Photovoltaics
University of Arizona engineers harness the power of perovskites to create ultra-thin and flexible solar cells with high efficiency rates. The new process, called RAPID, aims to reduce grain boundaries by 90% and improve stability, leading to significant impacts on perovskite production.
Researchers at Nagoya Institute of Technology have developed a highly durable and efficient water splitting cell using titanium oxide and p-type cubic SiC photocatalysts in a tandem structure. The study achieved a maximum solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 0.74% and demonstrated durability of over 100 days.
The Perovskite Photovoltaic Accelerator for Commercializing Technologies Center aims to overcome challenges in perovskite-based photovoltaic technologies. The center will test at least 30 perovskite modules outside and eventually expand performance testing to 50 kilowatts.
Researchers use cross-correlation noise spectroscopy to identify crucial electrical noise signals in silicon solar cells, pinpointing physical processes causing energy loss and lower efficiency. The technique allows for precise measurement of noise and removal of detector noise, enabling the detection of smaller noise signals.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin have found that thermally coupled systems produce more hydrogen than traditional setups when split by sunlight in sub-zero temperatures. This method could supply remote regions with clean energy, replacing fossil fuels and reducing pollution.
A new rate plan aims to benefit individuals who use less power or utilize solar power, while those with high peak usage pay more. The system uses electric smart meters and a grid access fee to approximate the impact of end-users' time-varying demand on local distribution networks.
Researchers from DGIST demonstrate a link between polydispersity and performance in perovskite colloidal quantum dots. Monodisperse suspensions yielded better solar cells with higher light absorption and efficiency.
A new recycling strategy for perovskite solar panels has been developed, which could reduce the carbon footprint of these panels by up to 72.6%. The recycling process could also lower the primary energy consumption of perovskite solar cells.
Organic solar cells have achieved record-breaking power conversion efficiency of 18.4% using a new technology developed by Lithuanian chemists at Kaunas University of Technology. The invention has been commercialized globally and shows potential for various applications, including light-emitting diodes and organic transistors.
Researchers at OIST Graduate University have developed a new method to synthesize crystalline powder necessary for perovskites, resulting in higher quality and stable solar cells. The newly created perovskite-based solar cells achieved conversion efficiencies of over 23% and lifespan of more than 2000 hours.
Rice University engineers have developed a method to grow remarkably uniform 2D perovskite crystals using microscopic seeds. This breakthrough addresses production issues and enables the creation of highly efficient photovoltaic devices with stable performance.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals the unique defect properties of low-dimensional materials particularly Sb2S3, which shows advantages in less dangling bonds and reduced recombination of carriers. Sulphur-rich Sb2S3 films exhibited excellent performance with lower density of defects and improved photovoltaic performance.
Researchers found a correlation between intragrain planar defects and reduced solar cell performance in perovskite materials. Tuning the chemical composition of these films controlled the presence of defects, leading to improved solar cell efficiency.
Researchers at KAUST developed a new molecular coating that significantly enhances the performance of organic photovoltaic cells, outperforming current materials like PEDOT:PSS. The coating increases efficiency by reducing electrical resistance, improving hole transport, and allowing more light to pass through.
Lehigh University engineers use Frontera supercomputer to simulate photovoltaic fabrication and train AI to optimize energy production. Their 'physics-informed machine learning' approach reduces time required to reach optimal process by 40%.
A team of engineers from the University of Toledo is working with NASA to develop more resilient solar power conversion systems for future Mars and Moon missions. The three-year grant will investigate ways to make these systems tolerant to space-related radiation, which degrades their performance.
Researchers at NYU Tandon have developed a method to speed up the doping process of perovskite solar cells using carbon dioxide, increasing efficiency by 100 times. This process also captures CO2, making it a potential solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in commercial solar cell production.
Researchers have developed semitransparent perovskite solar cells with high efficiency, enabling the creation of tandem devices that boost performance. The breakthrough could lead to transparent solar cells on windows, generating electricity from sunlight.
Researchers developed a holographic light collector that captures unused solar energy and increases the amount of solar energy converted by solar panels over the course of a year. The collector directs specific colors of sunlight to solar cells within the panel, resulting in an estimated five percent increase in annual yield.
Scientists at Swansea University have discovered a non-toxic biodegradable solvent called γ-Valerolactone (GVL) that can replace toxic solvents without impacting cell performance. This breakthrough could improve the commercial viability of carbon perovskite solar devices, making them more environmentally sustainable.
Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory discovered that liquid-like motion in perovskites could prevent recombination, increasing the efficiency of solar cells. The study reveals a two-dimensional pattern of molecular oscillations, which helps to explain the material's promising photovoltaic properties.
Researchers at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science have discovered a 'sandwich' structure in 2D perovskite films used in solar cells. This layout encourages excitons to move from the central layer to both surfaces, helping to result in more efficient solar energy generation. Prototype devices have demonstrated 13% efficiency.
Researchers at Tokyo Tech have developed a straightforward strategy to produce organic thin films with controllable shapes and thickness distributions. The novel approach combines bipolar electrochemistry with electrolytic micelle disruption, resulting in inexpensive and customizable thin films.
Scientists at PNNL develop a novel material capable of capturing light energy, displaying high efficiency and programmability, with potential applications in photovoltaics, bioimaging, and beyond. The researchers' bio-inspired approach leverages natural hierarchical structures for exceptional properties.
Scientists have identified a mechanism that causes perovskite solar cells to degrade, but also found a potential solution by selecting a crucial layer within the material. This new approach aims to increase stability and efficiency of next-generation solar cells.
A new method using quantum mechanics increases energy transfer in organic solar cells, allowing for simpler structure and improved durability. This discovery has the potential to significantly increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of producing organic solar cells.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in photovoltaics technology by developing tandem cells and singlet fission processes that reduce operating temperatures and extend device lifetimes. This innovation leads to a 2%-4% gain in annual energy production and doubles the lifetime of devices for every 10°C reduction in temperature.
A team from Brown University has made a significant breakthrough in improving the long-term reliability of perovskite solar cells by creating a molecular glue that strengthens key interfaces. The treatment increases cells' stability, reliability, and efficiency, setting the stage for widespread adoption of clean energy technology.
Scientists at KAUST have created a new absorber layer for perovskite solar cells using single crystals with a mixture of organic cations. This improvement increases the absorption range and enhances device performance, reaching an efficiency of 22.8 percent.
A new study by the University of California - Davis suggests that rapid solar development may harm rare desert plant species more than common ones. The research found that weather and landscape features influenced how plants respond to solar panels, with rare species facing potential threats from panel shade.
A new study by Oregon State University has found that combining solar panels and lamb grazing increases land productivity. The research compared lamb growth and pasture production in pastures with solar panels to traditional open pastures, finding less overall but higher quality forage in the solar pastures.
Researchers at the University of California - Santa Barbara have identified a major cause of limitations to efficiency in hybrid perovskite solar cells. A study found that missing hydrogen atoms in the organic molecules can cause massive efficiency losses due to unwanted energy dissipation, resulting in lower photovoltaic performance.
A study by RMIT University found that Australian government-owned airports could produce up to 10 times more electricity than residential panels in Bendigo, offsetting greenhouse gas emissions annually. The research suggests that installing large-scale rooftop solar systems at airports could power 136,000 homes and contribute towards a...
Researchers have developed a new semiconductor material that can conduct electricity more efficiently than before, using inexpensive chemicals like dimethyl sulphoxide and hydrobromic acid. The material has the potential to improve solar cells, mobile phones, and wearable electronics, with costs 5000 times lower than existing materials.
Active learning is used to identify promising organic molecules for efficient solar cells by iteratively deciding which data to learn from. This approach allows the algorithm to efficiently explore a vast molecular space and continuously improve its performance.
A new study reveals that proximity to existing solar panels is the most significant factor influencing an individual's likelihood of installing solar panels on their own roof. The findings suggest that seeding solar panels in areas with few or no panels can create a tipping point, potentially leading to widespread adoption and replacin...
Researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich developed a nanostructured, transparent material for the front of solar cells, achieving efficiencies of up to 23.99%, surpassing crystalline silicon cells. The new design offers passivation, transparency, and high electrical conductivity, paving the way for large-scale industrial production.
A new study found that solar panels can increase flower abundance and delay bloom timing, benefiting pollinators. The research suggests that using solar panels for pollinator habitat restoration could aid the agricultural community and provide important ecosystem services.
Researchers at Queensland University of Technology have developed carbon dots from human hair waste to enhance perovskite solar cell performance. The carbon nanodots form a wave-like layer surrounding the perovskite crystals, protecting them from environmental factors and improving power conversion efficiency.
Researchers developed PTVT-T, a low-cost polymer with high photovoltaic performance, revitalizing classical conjugated polymers for efficient OSCs. The study achieved a remarkable 16.2% efficiency and demonstrated the potential of PTVT-T to match with new emerging acceptor materials.
Scientists have found a way to create polarity and photovoltaic behavior in non-photovoltaic 2D materials by arranging them in a special way. The resulting effect is different from traditional solar cells and shows promise for future solar panel improvements.
Researchers have developed a novel method to improve photovoltaic performance in perovskite solar cells by modifying grain boundaries with 2D materials. The modifications lead to enhanced carrier mobility and stability, even under certain conditions where grain boundaries are favorable for device performance.
A team of researchers from Aarhus University and international experts found that solar photovoltaic technology has been drastically underestimated in the IPCC's climate-neutral energy production scenarios. The study suggests a more significant role for solar cells in achieving a fossil-free future.
Kanazawa University researchers have fabricated a highly efficient perovskite solar cell with nearly the energy conversion efficiency of commercial silicon-based solar cells. The development has the potential to increase the competitiveness of solar cells as a sustainable energy source.
The study reveals that fundamental processes during perovskite film formation strongly impact reproducibility, and optimizing the antisolvent step can significantly widen the processibility window of perovskite photovoltaic devices.
Researchers use time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography to capture dynamic changes in chloride ion-pumping rhodopsin, an atomic 'pump' driven by sunlight. The study reveals the mechanisms of energy conversion and has implications for designing light-sensitive molecular pumps.
Researchers will explore decision-making processes for adopting solar energy systems and electric vehicles, as well as improve the efficiency and manufacturing process for solar panels. The studies aim to identify non-technological barriers to clean-energy adoption and evaluate the effectiveness of low-cost interventions and incentives.
Researchers have developed a new dye called MS5 that significantly enhances the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), which are already being manufactured on a large scale. The new dye produces an open-circuit voltage of 1.24 Volts and achieves a power conversion efficiency of 13.5%, surpassing previous records in the field.
Researchers suggest covering California's public water delivery canals with solar panels to reduce evaporation and increase renewable energy production. The study found that cable-supported installations showed a 20-50% higher net present value, indicating greater financial return on investment.
A new fabrication method for stable perovskite solar cells has been developed, enabling easy production, low cost and high performance. The sulfolane-additive process extends the processing window, forming highly crystalline layers over a large area with extended operational lifetimes.
Researchers used conductive atomic force microscopy to detect tiny channels for dark currents in solar cell surfaces, revealing the loss mechanism at the interface of silicon heterojunction solar cells. The study showed that these channels are caused by disorder in the a-Si:H layer and lead to trap-assisted quantum mechanical tunnelling.
Researchers found no significant difference in plant growth or health when grown under different light filters, making see-through solar panels a feasible option for greenhouses. This technology could enable energy-neutral farming and reduce greenhouse emissions.
Researchers at POSTECH have developed an on-demand drug delivery system that utilizes organic photovoltaic cells and upconversion nanoparticles to convert near-infrared light into visible light, allowing for controlled drug release in medical devices.
Scientists from KIT's Institute of Microstructure Technology and Light Technology Institute have developed a new model to calculate photoluminescence quantum efficiency of perovskite films. The results reveal that the actual efficiency is significantly lower than previously estimated, with an estimated 78% compared to predicted 90%. Th...
Researchers at Tufts University created light-activated composite devices that execute precise movements and form complex shapes without wires or energy. The technology enables self-aligning solar cells, soft robots and other smart systems responsive to illumination.
The research team used laser spectroscopy to define the physics of trapped carriers in organic metal halide perovskite films. By analyzing the photocurrent, they identified defects that reduce efficiency, ultimately leading to increased performance and lower costs for solar cells and other devices.
Researchers at KAUST have developed a new solar cell material combination that surpasses the performance of traditional silicon-based panels. By optimizing perovskite materials and device architecture, they achieved efficiencies beyond commercial silicon solar cells.
Researchers at the University of Surrey have developed a new analysis of 2D perovskites, which could improve the stability of next-generation solar cells and LEDs. By combining lead with tin, they were able to reduce toxic lead quantities and tune key properties, leading to enhanced performance in photovoltaics and light-emitting diodes.
Scientists at Linköping University discover where unexplained energy losses occur during singlet fission, a phenomenon that can increase solar cell efficiency. The breakthrough could lead to higher efficiency rates, from 33% to over 40%, making solar cells more sustainable.
Researchers from Tohoku University created a tin monosulfide solar cell with attractive performance levels, overcoming manufacturing complexities. The p-n homojunction design achieved comparable open circuit voltage as previously reported heterojunction devices.