UMass Amherst scientists use graphene in new energy conversion architecture
Using a bio-mimicking analog of one of nature’s most efficient light-harvesting structures, blades of grass, an international research team led by Alejandro Briseno of the University of Massachusetts Amherst has taken a major step in developing long-sought polymer architecture to boost power-conversion efficiency of light to electricity for use in electronic devices.
Briseno, with colleagues and graduate students at UMass Amherst and others at Stanford University and Dresden University of Technology, Germany, report in the current issue of Nano Letters that by using single-crystalline organic nanopillars, or “nanograss,” they found a way to get around dead ends, or discontinuous pathways, that pose a serious drawback when using blended systems known as bulk heterojunction donor-acceptor, or positive-negative (p-n), junctions for harvesting energy in organic solar cells.
Briseno’s research group is one of very few in the world to design and grow organic single-crystal p-n junctions. He says, “This work is a major advancement in the field of organic solar cells because we have developed what the field considers the ‘Holy Grail’ of architecture for harvesting light and converting it to electricity.” The breakthrough in morphology control should have widespread use in solar cells, batteries and vertical transistors, he adds.
Briseno explains, “For decades scientists and engineers have placed great effort in trying to control the morphology of p-n junction interfaces in organic solar cells. We report here that we have at last developed the ideal architecture composed of organic single-crystal vertical nanopillars.” Nanopillars are nanoscale, engineered surfaces with billions of organic posts that resemble blades of grass, and like grass blades they are particularly effective at converting light to energy.
The Latest on: Organic solar cell
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Organic solar cell” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Organic solar cell
- 2D all-organic perovskites: potential use in 2D electronicson May 9, 2024 at 12:09 pm
Perovskites are among the most researched topics in materials science. Recently, a research team has solved an age-old challenge to synthesize all-organic two-dimensional perovskites, extending the ...
- $20 Million federal initiative targets low-emission silicon and thin film researchon May 9, 2024 at 9:19 am
The Solar Energy Technologies Office has launched a dual initiative to propel upstream advancements in a collection of solar cell types, and to reduce the emissions of solar-grade polysilicon under 1 ...
- PolyU researchers create 2D all-organic perovskites and demonstrate potential use in 2D electronicson May 9, 2024 at 7:04 am
This research titled “Molecularly thin, two-dimensional all-organic perovskites” was recently published ... properties that can be applied in wide-ranging fields such as solar cells, lighting and ...
- Harnessing Sunlight Like Never Before: Hemispherical Solar Cells Unleash Unmatched Absorptionon May 9, 2024 at 4:17 am
New research suggests redesigning organic solar cells with a hemispherical shell structure to provide broader angular coverage, which is particularly beneficial for devices that need adaptable light ...
- Scientists make advancements with groundbreaking binary organic solar cell technology: 'Highly efficient and stable'on May 8, 2024 at 5:30 pm
The scientists are improving the technology while also making the cells easier to place. Scientists make advancements with groundbreaking binary organic solar cell technology: 'Highly efficient and ...
- Swedish startup wins EU funding to print organic indoor solar panelson May 7, 2024 at 7:55 am
Epishine's organic solar panels harness indoor light to power electronics and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
- UCSB pioneers a low-energy process for high-performance solar cellson May 6, 2024 at 8:05 am
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara developed a way to make perovskite films at room temperature. This material has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional, silicon solar cells.
- Researchers create 2D all-organic perovskites, demonstrate potential use in 2D electronicson May 6, 2024 at 6:49 am
Perovskites are among the most researched topics in materials science. Recently, a research team from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has solved an age-old challenge to synthesize ...
- Recent Applications of Polymers in Solar Cellson May 6, 2024 at 4:16 am
Organic photovoltaics has drawn immense attraction in recent years due to advancements in development of new materials. Despite the encouraging efficiency boost witnessed, the technology is still ...
- 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 ...
via Bing News