We haven’t checked in on the metamaterials scene in a few months but here’s something that caught our eye. A bigger-than-usual research team spearheaded by Purdue University has developed a new hyperbolic metamaterial that has numerous applications in the optical field, including high efficiency solar cells. While not the only factor in the overall cost
Originally published on Renewables International. By Craig Morris Did you know that Socrates gave lectures on solar architecture? But no, he’s not the one who invented it – that honor goes back at least to the Chinese, according to the update of John Perlin’s classic from the 1970s entitled “A Golden Thread.” The new version,
Soligent and SunWize have decided to integrate and combine their operations in order to reportedly become the largest provider of solar distribution and dealer services in the US. Their combined portfolio of offerings involve financing and value-added services for solar installers, energy efficiency firms, electrical contractors, and roofing companies. The company’s new name is Soligent
A new silicon solar photovoltaic cell capable of turning infrared radiation into electricity has been developed by a team headed by researchers at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).
While solar cells capable of taking advantage of the infrared portion of the solar spectrum are nothing new, a silicon solar cell that can effectively do so is.
The new silicon cell capable of absorbing the infrared radiation. Image Credit: Asociación RUVID
Silicon is the material of choice for visible light photodetection and solar cell fabrication. However, due to the intrinsic band gap properties of silicon, most infrared photons are energetically useless. Here, we show the first example of a photodiode developed on a micrometre scale sphere made of polycrystalline silicon whose photocurrent shows the Mie modes of a classical spherical resonator. The long dwell time of resonating photons enhances the photocurrent response, extending it into the infrared region well beyond the absorption edge of bulk silicon.
It opens the door for developing solar cells and photodetectors that may harvest infrared light more efficiently than silicon photovoltaic devices that are so far developed.
Lead researcher, professor Francisco Meseguer, explains thusly: “After three years of work, our research team has developed a new concept of silicon solar cells able to absorb infrared radiation from the sun and turning them into electricity.”
Researcher Moisés Garín, from the CSIC and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, adds to that: “What we have done is create photovoltaic cells on silicon micrometer-scale sphere, where infrared light is trapped until it is absorbed turning it into electricity.”
As you can probably tell from the quotes, English isn’t the first language of the researchers. But if you like to have some visuals accompany verbal explanation (or are fortunate enough to speak Spanish), then you may still enjoy the video posted below explaining the work.
The new research was published in the journal Nature Communications.
A new, next-generation solar cell material that’s capable of emitting light as well as converting light into electricity has been developed by researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The cells themselves glow when electricity is run through them, and, according to the researchers, the coloring of this emitted light can be easily and cheaply altered.
Two times more solar cell power generation? Well, that would be something, wouldn’t it! Here’s more info from CleanTechnica: Startup Hopes to Double the Power of Solar (via Clean Technica) A Massachusetts start-up called Bandgap Engineering is aiming to double…
While conventional solar cells can absorb a good portion of the Sun’s light, they completely miss the boat on getting anything from the infrared spectrum. But black silicon solar cells are actually designed exactly for this. A group of researchers from…
If you’re into science, and especially if you’re into the science behind solar, check out this fun post on an exciting new development in solar energy research:
The top 30 industrial groups of South Korea are planning to invest 22.4 trillion won ($18.5 billion) in clean energy projects by 2013, Bloomberg reported this week. This proposed investment, which will be for 2011-2013, is a 48% increase over the…
In a move to try to create a solar cell conversion efficiency rate of over 20%, Chinese company JA Solar Holdings has teamed up with US start-up Innovalight. The two have signed a 3-year contract “for work on Secium high efficiency solar…
But if you like to have some visuals accompany verbal explanation (or are fortunate enough to speak Spanish), then you may still enjoy the video posted below explaining the work.