Improving Solar Cells by Watching Atoms Move in Hybrid Perovskite Crystals Updated On Tue, Nov 28th, 2017 by Saurenergy Hybrid perovskites are promising materials for making next-generation solar cells because they are inexpensive to manufacture and are considerably efficient at converting light to electricity. A team of researchers led by the University of California San Diego has for the first time observed nanoscale changes deep inside hybrid perovskite crystals that could offer new insights […] Read more
NREL Develops Switchable Solar Window Updated On Tue, Nov 28th, 2017 by Saurenergy Demonstration device dynamically responds to sunlight by transforming from transparent to tinted while converting sunlight into electricity. Thermochromic windows capable of converting sunlight into electricity at a high efficiency have been developed by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Relying on such advanced materials as perovskites and single-walled carbon […] Read more
Glass Microparticles Enhance Solar Cells Efficiency Updated On Mon, Nov 27th, 2017 by Saurenergy When it comes to manufacturing solar cells, it is crucial to find ways to diminish light reflection from cells and avoid transparent electrode overheating, which prevents solar cells from working properly. Scientists from ITMO University suggested a new solar cell coating that combines features of an electrode and those of a light-trapping structure. The coating […] Read more
Novel Process for Producing High-Voltage Cathodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries Updated On Mon, Nov 27th, 2017 by Saurenergy Dr. Jennifer Ludwig of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has developed a process that allows a fast, simple, and cost-effective production of the promising cathode material lithium cobalt phosphate in high quality. The chemist was awarded the Evonik Research Prize for her work. The powder that Jennifer Ludwig carefully pours into a glass bowl […] Read more
Hydrogen Fuel for Cars One Step Closer to Reality Updated On Mon, Nov 27th, 2017 by Saurenergy The technology, described in a paper in the journal Energy Storage Materials, could be especially useful in rural areas, or to military units serving in remote locations. Researchers at University of California, Los Angeles have designed a device that can use solar energy to inexpensively and efficiently create and store energy, which could be used […] Read more
Newly Discovered Semiconductor Dynamics May Help Improve Energy Efficiency Updated On Fri, Nov 24th, 2017 by Saurenergy Researchers examining the flow of electricity through semiconductors have uncovered another reason these materials seem to lose their ability to carry a charge as they become more densely “doped.” Their results, which may help engineers design faster semiconductors in the future, are published online in the journal ACS Nano. Semiconductors are found in just about […] Read more
Air-breathing Battery Could Cut Costs of Renewable Energy Storage Updated On Fri, Nov 24th, 2017 by Saurenergy Solar power and wind are increasingly popular sources for renewable energy. But intermittency issues keep them from connecting widely to the U.S. grid: They require energy-storage systems that, at the cheapest, run about $100 per kilowatt hour and function only in certain locations. Now MIT researchers have developed an “air-breathing” battery that could store electricity […] Read more
Expanding Wavelength Range for Solar Energy Conversion Updated On Thu, Nov 23rd, 2017 by Saurenergy Sunlight comes in a spectrum, with each color having a different wavelength. Solar cells must absorb light of particular wavelengths, depending on how much energy the cell needs to drive the reaction. Hydrogen gas is a promising “green” fuel. The lightest chemical element, hydrogen is an efficient energy store and could potentially replace gasoline in […] Read more
Ionic Solar Cell Could Provide On-Demand Water Desalination Updated On Tue, Nov 21st, 2017 by Saurenergy The use such a mechanism to manufacture a device that would directly desalinate saltwater upon exposure to sunlight. Modern solar cells, which use energy from light to generate electrons and holes that are then transported out of semiconducting materials and into external circuits for human use, have existed in one form or another for over […] Read more
