photovoltaics

Northwestern University’s latest research in perovskite solar cells has set a new efficiency record of 25.1%, using a novel dual-molecule approach to reduce electron recombination. This development marks a significant step towards making perovskite solar cells a more efficient and stable alternative to conventional silicon-based cells. Credit: Sargent Lab/Northwestern UniversityResearchers have enhanced cell efficiency by utilizing a combination of molecules to tackle various issues.Researchers at Northwestern University…

Researchers have utilized AI to uncover new insights into dislocations in polycrystalline materials, challenging existing scientific models and paving the way for enhanced material performance in electronics and solar cells. Credit: SciTechDaily.comScientists at Nagoya University in Japan have used artificial intelligence to discover a new method for understanding small defects called dislocations in polycrystalline materials, materials widely used in information equipment, solar cells, and electronic devices, that can…

A process developed by Rice engineers and collaborators yields 2D halide perovskite crystal layers of ideal thickness and purity through dynamic control of the crystallization process ⎯ a key step toward ensuring device stability for optoelectronics and photovoltaics. Credit: Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University A study led by Rice University successfully solves the 2D halide perovskite synthesis bottleneck by controlling dynamic crystallization. Recent advancements in solar cell efficiency have been significantly…

Recent research has proven the viability of lightweight, cost-efficient solar panels for space, opening the door to potential solar farms in orbit and marking a significant step in renewable energy technology. (Artist’s concept) New research from the Universities of Surrey and Swansea suggests that it’s viable to create affordable, lightweight solar panels capable of generating power in space. The first study of its kind, which monitored a satellite for six years across 30,000 orbits, examined the panels’ power…

A research team at the Technical University of Munich has made significant progress in organic solar cell technology by incorporating organic dyes. These dyes facilitate the movement of excitons, critical for energy conversion, thus enhancing the efficiency of the solar cells. Their work opens up new possibilities for organic solar cells and light-emitting diodes, offering potential for more sustainable energy solutions.Organic dyes accelerate the transport of buffered solar energy.The sun provides vast amounts of energy…

UCL researchers have created arsenic-alloyed phosphorus nanoribbons that enhance the efficiency of batteries and solar cells. These nanoribbons conduct electricity more effectively and offer potential applications in quantum computing and energy storage, promising scalable and cost-effective production.Researchers at University College London have developed one-atom-thick ribbons composed of a phosphorus and arsenic alloy. This breakthrough material holds the potential to significantly enhance the performance of various…

Researchers have developed SmartDope, an autonomous system capable of rapidly identifying the best materials for electronic and photonic devices, addressing a longstanding challenge in quantum dot synthesis. SmartDope operates as a self-driving lab, conducting experiments in a continuous flow reactor and utilizing machine learning to optimize quantum dot production. In just one day, it surpassed the previous quantum yield record, showcasing the potential of self-driving labs for accelerating material science. Credit:…

One of the best ways to make buildings greener is to cover them with solar panels — turning homes, offices, and factories into clean energy generators.  Rooftop solar is particularly popular in the Netherlands because, well, it’s a tiny country with lots of people, where every square inch counts. Adding solar panels to the empty exterior of a building, rather than occupying swathes of countryside, simply makes sense.   Rooftop makes up the largest number of solar installations in the EU, and…

The California Institute of Technology has big news for space-based power. Researchers at the university have reportedly beamed solar power from space to Earth without a single wire—and they say it’s a first.This Summer’s Hottest UmbrellaThe experiment is a part of Caltech’s Space Solar Power Project, and the institute announced a successful transmission via press release yesterday. The researchers conducted the power transfer experiment using the Microwave Array for Power-transfer Low-orbit Experiment, or MAPLE, which is…

U.S. manufacturing takes up a lot of energy, but there’s untapped potential in solar power for that sector, new research finds. A study looked at how installing solar panels throughout manufacturing sites could meet a third of that sector’s power needs.This Summer’s Hottest UmbrellaResearchers used a survey from the Department of Energy and compared states to understand where rooftop solar could best supply electricity needs for manufacturing. Theyfound that companies that focus on textiles, apparel, and furniture would…