Most Americans want the U.S. to place more emphasis on developing solar power, recent polls suggest.
A major impediment, however, is the cost to manufacture, install and maintain solar panels. Simply put, most people and businesses cannot afford to place them on their rooftops.
Fortunately, that is changing because researchers such as Qiaoqiang Gan, University at Buffalo assistant professor of electrical engineering, are helping develop a new generation of photovoltaic cells that produce more power and cost less to manufacture than what’s available today.
One of the more promising efforts, which Gan is working on, involves the use of plasmonic-enhanced organic photovoltaic materials. These devices don’t match traditional solar cells in terms of energy production but they are less expensive and – because they are made (or processed) in liquid form – can be applied to a greater variety of surfaces.
Gan detailed the progress of plasmonic-enhanced organic photovoltaic materials in the May 7 edition of the journal Advanced Materials. Co-authors include Filbert J. Bartoli, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Lehigh University, and Zakya Kafafi of the National Science Foundation.
The paper, which included an image of a plasmonic-enhanced organic photovoltaic device on the journal’s front page, is available at:http://bit.ly/11gzlQm.
Currently, solar power is produced with either thick polycrystalline silicon wafers or thin-film solar cells made up of inorganic materials such as amorphous silicon or cadmium telluride. Both are expensive to manufacture, Gan said.
His research involves thin-film solar cells, too, but unlike what’s on the market he is using organic materials such as polymers and small molecules that are carbon-based and less expensive.
“Compared with their inorganic counterparts, organic photovoltaics can be fabricated over large areas on rigid or flexible substrates potentially becoming as inexpensive as paint,” Gan said.
The reference to paint does not include a price point but rather the idea that photovoltaic cells could one day be applied to surfaces as easily as paint is to walls, he said.
The Latest Bing News on:
Organic photovoltaics
- Scientists Have Developed a Solar Cell You Can Bend and Soak in Wateron April 29, 2024 at 2:45 pm
Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and their partners have created a flexible, waterproof organic photovoltaic film. This innovative film enables solar cells to be integrated ...
- A strategy to boost the efficiency of perovskite/organic photovoltaic cellson April 29, 2024 at 5:32 am
While perovskite/organic tandem solar cells could theoretically achieve high PCEs and stabilities, their performance is hindered by a process known as phase segregation. This process degrades the ...
- Agrivoltaics for cucumberson April 29, 2024 at 12:04 am
Scientists in Israel have tested three different PV technologies to power a greenhouse hosting 400 cucumber seedlings. Their analysis has revealed that the PV module cover on the greenhouse's roof has ...
- Unravelling Secrets Of Efficient Organic Photovoltaicson April 25, 2024 at 10:18 pm
Discover how investigating the electron-accepting molecule Y6 is revolutionising organic photovoltaics, offering new hope for sustainable energy solutions.
- HKU Engineering researchers uncover the key to efficient and stable organic solar cellson April 25, 2024 at 2:03 pm
A team of researchers led by Professor Philip C.Y. Chow from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has made a significant breakthrough in the field of organic ...
- Engineers uncover key to efficient and stable organic solar cellson April 25, 2024 at 7:56 am
A team of researchers led by Professor Philip C.Y. Chow from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has made a significant breakthrough in the field of organic ...
- HKU Engineering researchers uncover the key to efficient and stable organic solar cellson April 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Organic photovoltaics (OPV), which employs cost-effective, printable, and environmentally friendly polymer semiconductors, holds tremendous potential for generating sustainable and renewable energy.
- Key to efficient and stable organic solar cellson April 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Their research, titled "The role of interfacial donor-acceptor percolation in efficient and stable all-polymer solar cells," paves the way for more sustainable and viable solar energy solutions for ...
- A shade closer to more efficient organic photovoltaicson April 24, 2024 at 10:00 am
Transparent solar cells will transform the look of infrastructure by enabling many more surfaces to become solar panels. Now, materials called non-fullerene acceptors that can intrinsically generate ...
- Organic Photovoltaics (OPV): Harnessing Solar Energy with Organic Materialson April 23, 2024 at 12:24 pm
What are Organic Photovoltaics (OPV)? Organic photovoltaics (OPV) are a class of solar cells that utilize organic materials, such as polymers and small molecules, to convert sunlight into electricity.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Organic photovoltaics
[google_news title=”” keyword=”organic photovoltaics” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Painted on solar cells
- Pennsylvania Republican Got Solar Panel Money From Biden Bill He Opposedon May 1, 2024 at 5:04 am
In his 2022 financial disclosure, Kelly reported an ownership stake in Mike Kelly Automotive Group worth between $50,001 and $100,000, and a salary from the company of just under $30,000. Kelly also ...
- Federal Money Is All Over Milwaukee. Biden Hopes Voters Will Notice.on May 1, 2024 at 4:55 am
Across Milwaukee, residents can see evidence of federal money from laws passed under the Biden administration, if they know where to look. It shows up in a growing array of solar panels near the ...
- New solar panel program would let disadvantaged communities plug into clean energy opportunitieson April 30, 2024 at 6:52 pm
A Cleveland-based "green bank" is leading an effort to bring solar panels to low-income residents in 31 communities across eight states.
- Best Solar Panels For Homes Of 2024on April 30, 2024 at 4:10 am
Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. Solar panels and their accessories unlock the boundless energy from sunshine and transform it into useful energy at home.
- Solar Energy Newson April 26, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Apr. 8, 2024 — Researchers have fabricated a new four-terminal organic solar cell with a tandem configuration with a 16.94% power conversion efficiency (PCE). The new device is composed by a ...
- Key Solar Panel Ingredient Is Made in the U.S.A. Againon April 25, 2024 at 8:17 am
REC Silicon says it will soon start shipping polysilicon, which has come mostly from China, reviving a Washington State factory that shut down in 2019.
- Key to efficient and stable organic solar cellson April 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm
A team of researchers has made a significant breakthrough in the field of organic photovoltaics. A team of researchers led by Professor Philip C.Y. Chow from the Department of Mechanical ...
- Groundbreaking for solar panels floating on Cohoes reservoiron April 22, 2024 at 5:21 pm
Nearly $8 million project will be owned the city, and ultimately will take care of all city buildings' electricity.
- Rooftop solar panels are flooding California’s grid. That’s a problem.on April 22, 2024 at 8:07 am
In sunny California, solar panels are everywhere. They sit in dry, desert landscapes in the Central Valley and are scattered over rooftops in Los Angeles’s urban center. By last count ...
- The Best Portable Solar Panels of 2024, Tested and Reviewedon April 19, 2024 at 10:43 am
If you’re looking to purchase both a power station and portable solar panel, check out my take on the best solar generators; It looks at which pairings provide the best bang for your buck. My portable ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Painted on solar cells
[google_news title=”” keyword=”painted on solar cells” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]