Posts Tagged ‘solar cells’
Science & Technology - Jun 7, 2010 9:00 - 0 Comments
Bendy copper nanowire akin to ‘foldable iPad’
DUKE (US)—Chemists have perfected a simple way to make inexpensive copper nanowires in quantity that are so small they are transparent, making them ideal for thin-film solar cells, flat-screen TVs, computers, and flexible displays. (more…)
Science & Technology - Jun 1, 2010 11:54 - 0 Comments
Efficient semiconductor chips for solar cells
U. ILLINOIS (US)—A novel manufacturing method that uses gallium arsenide (GaAs) instead of silicon to create semiconductor chips could greatly improve the efficiency and lower the cost of solar energy devices. (more…)
Science & Technology - Apr 26, 2010 10:57 - 0 Comments
Metamaterial could boost solar cell efficiency
CALTECH (US)—Scientists have engineered a type of artificial optical material with a 3-D structure that allows it to bend light—approaching from nearly any angle—in the “wrong” direction from what normally would be expected. (more…)
Science & Technology - Apr 11, 2010 12:02 - 2 Comments
Closing in on a carbon-based solar cell
INDIANA (US)—To make large sheets of carbon available for light collection, chemists have devised an unusual solution—attach what amounts to a 3-D bramble patch to each side of the carbon sheet. (more…)
Science & Technology - Feb 17, 2010 16:49 - 3 Comments
Flexible solar cells soak up the sun
CALTECH (US)—Scientists have created a new type of flexible solar cell that enhances the absorption of sunlight and efficiently converts its photons into electrons. The solar cell does all this using only a fraction of the expensive semiconductor materials required by conventional models. (more…)
Science & Technology - Dec 15, 2009 12:24 - 0 Comments
Cooking up clear, UV-proof glasses
PENN STATE (US)—Adding cerium oxide to phosphate glass rather than the commonly used silicate glass may make eye glasses that remain colorless, block ultraviolet light, and have increased resistance to radiation damage. (more…)
Science & Technology - Sep 17, 2009 19:27 - 7 Comments
Nanotubes may yield greener solar cells
In a carbon nanotube-based photodiode, electrons (blue) and holes (red) release their excess energy to efficiently create more electron-hole pairs when light is shined on the device. (Credit: Nathan Gabor)
Earth & Environment - Aug 31, 2009 11:52 - 1 Comment
Move over trees. Here comes the sun
Scientists are exploring new ways to tap the sun’s energy directly, without the help of plants, to create potential fuel sources. “The main problem with current solar power technology is that if the sun’s not shining, you’re out of luck,” says Tom Meyer. “Solar fuels give us the ability to collect and stockpile that energy.”
Science & Technology - Aug 21, 2009 15:51 - 1 Comment
Solar cells nano-inked onto rooftops
A team of engineers is using nanoparticle “inks” (as shown here) to develop cheap solar cells. Lead researcher Brian Korgel says the inks, which are semitransparent, could help realize the prospect of having windows that double as solar cells.
Earth & Environment - Aug 5, 2009 13:13 - 0 Comments
Solar cells with perfect mix of plastics
David Ginger, a University of Washington associate professor of chemistry, displays the tiny probe for a conductive atomic force microscope, used to record photocurrents on scales of millionths of an inch in carbon-based solar cells. (Credit: Mary Levin/University of Washington)
Science & Technology - Jul 30, 2009 14:41 - 0 Comments
Golden combo yields do-it-all nanotool
A quantum dot (red) encapsulated in a gold shell, combining two useful nanoparticles in one package. The total structure measures less than 20 nanometers across.
Science & Technology - Jun 15, 2009 12:26 - 0 Comments
Semiconductors on the cheap with new ‘glue’
A vial of nanocrystals in solution, which serve as “electronic glue” for semiconductor-based technologies. (Credit: Dan Dry)
