solar cells tagged posts

Optical absorption edge versus free electron density for the ZnSnN2 films. The calculated dependence of absorption on free electron density is also shown for the two extreme cases of cation ordered (blue dashed line) and fully cation disordered (red solid line) ZnSnN2. The calculations are performed using k·P band structures fitted to the DFT results close to the Γ point. The square points correspond to samples grown under less metal-rich conditions and triangular points to those grown under more metal-rich conditions.

University of Liverpool has demonstrated a new semiconductor material made from abundant elements which can be “tuned” for use in solar cells instead of rare elements...

Researchers explained that this air cooling system based on clean energy that is supplied with water and has photovoltaic modules that can operate for 12 continuous hours. Credit: Image courtesy of Investigación y Desarrollo

GeckoLogic firm developed an evaporative cooler that has an integrated photovoltaic system isolated from the electrical network, which enables to refresh an area of ​​~200 sq meters. The advantage of this product is that it works exclusively with sunlight and water, which makes it self-sustaining. It also entails the advantage of eliminating the need to connect it to a conventional power source. In addition to only using clean energy it reduces the environmental impact caused by the emission of greenhouse gases that traditional systems cause.

This air cooling syst...

—promising 3rd-gen solar cells utilizing a nanocrystal ink deposition that could make traditional expensive silicon-based solar panels a thing of the past. While progress on organic thin-film photovoltaics is rapidly growing, inorganic devices still hold the record for highest efficiencies which is in part due to their broad spectral absorption and excellent electronic properties.

A major disadvantage compared to organics, however, is that inorganic materials are difficult to deposit from solution. To overcome this, Townsend synthesized materials on the nanoscale. Inorganic nanocrystals encased in an organic ligand shell are soluble in organic solvents and can be deposited from solution (i.e...

(a) Coupling efficiency (ηC) versus source angle (φ) for a planar solar panel. The panel projected area decreases with the cosφ. (b) A kirigami tracking structure that, upon stretching, simultaneously changes the angle of the elements comprising the sheet. By incorporating thin-film solar cells into this structure, it may be used as a low-profile alternative to conventional single-axis solar tracking. (c) The direction of feature tilt (that is, clockwise or counter-clockwise with respect to the original plane) is controlled by lifting or lowering one end of the sheet (step 1) before the straining process (step 2).

Solar cells capture up to 40% more energy when they can track the sun, but conventional, motorized trackers are too heavy and bulky for pitched rooftops and vehicle surfaces...