Double-layer solar cells

 A team from the University of Toronto, led by Professor ted sargent has reported the development of the first two quantum dot solar cell layers, which can be an element of change in the field of solar energy. 

The team has used two variants of colloidal quantum dots (colloidal quantum dots, CQD), one to absorb the visible part of solar energy, and another to absorb part of the near infrared and infrared. Altogether this technology increases efficiency theoretical 31 percent to 42 percent.
While the theoretical efficiency has increased to 42 percent, the reality is very far from it.

As reported some members of the team of Toronto, this first double layer solar cell has a 4.2 per cent efficiency, only one-tenth of the theoretical estimates. However, they trust that in the next 5 years, this efficiency will increase to 10 per cent.

Also they believe that the lower efficiency of cells of quantum dots will be offset by its low-cost, both in the manufacturing and application.

Solar cells cheaper and more efficient with low-quality Silicon

We told you of a new line of innovation in manufacturing of photovoltaic solar cells seems to reach one of the most important objectives for future of solar energy approach: increase efficiency and reduce the cost of the electricity generation.

Singapore researchers have taken advantage of the advanced technology that has developed in the creation of nanostructures to make a highly efficient Silicon cell and still cheaper. With this development, the researchers hope that the cost of solar energy can be reduced by half, which could certainly mean the opening of the renewable to millions of people in the world.

This development was carried out jointly by the University of technology of Nanyang (NTU) and the to * STAR Institute of microelectronics (IME). These new thin film solar cells using Silicon low-quality, a cheaper material, allowing a low final price. Exceptional for his invention is that they have found a technique which can generate electricity flows similar to those produced by traditional solar cells that contain such expensive high quality Silicon.

The new nano-estructuradas solar cells NTU-A * STAR can produce a stream of (34.3mA/cm2) - a world record for a solar cell of Silicon of class. This is possible through the creation of a unique texture using nanostructures on the surface of the solar cell, which are thousands of times smaller than a human hair.
To compare the resulting electrical current with the results of other types of solar cells, we can see it quite close to the traditional cells which is 40mA/cm2. While the conventional solar thin film cells typically produce about half of this stream.

The adoption of solar energy worldwide is hampered in large part by the high cost of traditional solar panels , and this is because they are made with high quality Silicon. To rectify this, has been used - as you had above - to low-quality amorphous silicon , a thin film has no texture-- which is 100 times thinner. However this material - is its natural form - is not as effective to convert sunlight into electricity, so it produces less energy.

The developed method is then to create a unique texture on the surface of amorphous, Silicon using nanostructures and thus improves the efficiency of conversion of energy (PCE) of thin film silicon cell and therefore increases the production of energy.
More about high efficiency solar cells:
Solar energy could have its future in the colder regions of the planet
Solar cells with efficiency of 45 %
High efficiency solar cells
A Virus improves the efficiency of solar cells
Solar Cell film fine record of 28.2% efficiency




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Nickel in photovoltaic cells reducira cost of solar energy

One of the most promising technologies in search of cheaper solar energy production is being studied by scientists of the University of Toronto (Canada).

And addition, it is expected that this reduction in the cost remains reasonable efficiency photovoltaic cells.

Recently published studies have proven that nickel - a material of low-cost - you can replace the use of gold in certain components of the photovoltaic cells.This change of raw materials would reduce the price cells between 40-80%.

On the application of nanotechnology, has been that the full spectrum of sunlight (visible light and infrared light) in the production of energy can be utilized.This improves performance of solar cells based on components of silicones, since part of the light spectrum is not seized with such technologies.

The team of scientists has reached in initial testing an increase of effectiveness of 5 per cent, and expect reach 10 per cent the commercial launch of this new technology.

The promising results just published were part of an arduous process of research.According to relate some members of the team of research of the University of Toronto, his initial hypothesis that nickel could serve to such processes failed to start.Material nickel blocked the normal flow of current, but then dilucidaron that the incorporation of a nanometer lithium fluoride created a barrier that blocked the original reaction to the expected result.

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Nanotechnology: 10 times more efficiency in the absorption of light in solar cells

The contributions of nanotechnology or nanoscience seem endless, since it opens up new worlds to scientists, where things behave differently when you thought if they are carried the minimum scale of chemistry part of a meter (nanometer). And research and innovation in the field of solar energy is taking great benefit from this.

In this case will bring new research forward by engineers of the University of Stanford. This team has designed blades solar cells that can absorb sunlight much more efficiently than cells thick, expensive, and made from Silicon.The key lies in light behaves differently from close to the nanometer scale.

The result is that – by combining different thin layers of films of organic polymers is absorbed 10 times more light than I thought possible. This is achieved because they have managed to retain the light within the solar cell for longer.The longer stays the photon bouncing in the cell, more energy you can get it. A key factor in achieving this behavior of the wavelength of light was rough materials used.

Visible light has waves of about 400 to 700 nanometers.Stanford scientists decided to experiment with thick materials substantially lower the light wave, and noted that in this way can confine light longer achieving excellent results.

Apart from its high productivity the solar cells at the nanometric have other advantages: materials are expensive, and their manufacture is simpler than silicon-based cells.

More information:

Science Daily

Nanotechnology becomes faster, more efficient and cheaper solar panels in Erenovable.com

Continued advances in nanotechnology to improve the efficiency of solar panels in Erenovable.com

Images:

Science Daily

Pnas.org

Categorias:Solar energy, science Tags: Tags: solar cells, effectiveness, solar energy, research, light, nanoscience, nanotechnology, wave, polymer organic, enegia production, standford University

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