Converting sunshine into electricity is not difficult, but doing so efficiently and on a large scale is one of the reasons why people still rely on the electric grid and not a national solar cell network.
But a team of researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Central Florida in Orlando may be one step closer to tapping into the full potential of solar cells. The team found a way to create large sheets of nanotextured, silicon micro-cell arrays that hold the promise of making solar cells lightweight, more efficient, bendable and easy to mass produce.
The team used a light-trapping scheme based on a nanoimprinting technique where a polymeric stamp mechanically emboss the nano-scale pattern on to the solar cell without involving further complex lithographic steps. This approach has led to the flexibility researchers have been searching for, making the design ideal for mass manufacturing, said UCF assistant professor Debashis Chanda, lead researcher of the study.
The study’s findings are the subject of the November cover story of the journal Advanced Energy Materials.
Previously, scientists had suggested designs that showed greater absorption rates of sunlight, but how efficiently that sunlight was converted into electrical energy was unclear, Debashis said. This study demonstrates that the light-trapping scheme offers higher electrical efficiency in a lightweight, flexible module.
The team believes this technology could someday lead to solar-powered homes fueled by cells that are reliable and provide stored energy for hours without interruption.
The Latest on: Solar cells
- Ground-Mounted Vs Roof-Mounted Solar Panels: Which Are Better?on April 27, 2024 at 9:15 am
Ground-mounted solar panels might be better for one home while roof-mounted solar panels are better for another. Here's how to decide between the two.
- How Many Solar Panels Does It Take To Power An RV/Motorhome?on April 26, 2024 at 11:15 pm
Solar power for RVs is taking off, so if you're looking to add some solar panels to your vehicle, it can take some math to figure out exactly what you need.
- Solar panel plant coming to eastern North Carolina with 900 jobson April 26, 2024 at 1:26 pm
A Vietnamese-based company will build its first North American solar panel manufacturing plant in eastern North Carolina, creating over 900 jobs.
- Researchers outline path forward for tandem solar cellson April 26, 2024 at 7:22 am
As the old saying goes, two heads are better than one. The same is true when it comes to solar cells working in tandem. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy ...
- Solar panels in the eyes: reality or distant future?on April 26, 2024 at 4:44 am
Implanting tiny solar cells in people's eyes might sound like a futuristic idea, but it's what Australian scientists are exploring. This advanced technology could greatly help those with eye diseases.
- Improving solar panel recyclability with laserson April 25, 2024 at 9:06 pm
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed a proof of concept for a method to remove polymers from solar panel manufacturing to enable more efficient recycling.
- US solar panel makers seek import tariffs to protect new domestic factorieson April 25, 2024 at 1:20 pm
Some of the world's largest solar equipment makers on Wednesday asked President Joe Biden's administration to impose tariffs on panels and cells from four Asian countries to protect billions of ...
- 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.
- New AD/CVD petition filed against solar cells and panels from Southeast Asiaon April 25, 2024 at 8:12 am
A new antidumping/countervailing duty petition has been filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) and the Dept. of Commerce concerning ...
- The Myths And Truths About Why Electric Cars Don't Have Solar Panelson April 25, 2024 at 7:00 am
Although solar energy alone cannot fully power a car for real-world usage, manufacturers are overcoming challenges and getting closer by the hour.
via Bing News
The Latest on: Advanced energy materials
- Aviation-specific battery system uses advanced composites to address electric, hybrid flighton April 23, 2024 at 10:23 pm
BOLDair’s composite enclosures, compression structures and thermal runaway management enables high-performance electric energy storage.
- Unconventional technology enhances composites important to automotive, aerospace and renewable energy industrieson April 23, 2024 at 1:08 pm
Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a method that demonstrates how fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials used in the automotive, aerospace and ...
- DOE reveals first clean energy projects receiving $1.93B in advanced manufacturing investmentson April 22, 2024 at 1:00 pm
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released details for 35 projects across 20 states that voluntarily shared with DOE they received a total of $1.93 billion in allocations of the Qualifying Advanced ...
- Lightweight, Flexible Battery Paves the Way for Advanced Wearableson April 22, 2024 at 9:12 am
In a recent study published in Advanced Energy Materials, researchers from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology have developed a fiber-like electrode material using modified carbon nanotube ...
- This electrode material allows 33x more energy storage in wearableson April 21, 2024 at 5:25 am
Fiber-like electrodes with exceptional strength, lightness, and flexibility, promises improved energy storage in wearable devices.
- Accelerating the discovery of new materials via the ion-exchange methodon April 19, 2024 at 10:02 am
Tohoku University researchers have unveiled a new means of predicting how to synthesize new materials via the ion-exchange. Based on computer simulations, the method significantly reduces the time and ...
- Versatile fibers offer improved energy storage capacity for wearable deviceson April 19, 2024 at 5:57 am
The latest wearable devices, such as Samsung's Galaxy Ring and Apple's Vision Pro, are taking health care a step further and even enabling people to work virtually. Given the characteristics of ...
- Log9 Materials and Zeta Energy partner for advanced battery systemson April 12, 2024 at 1:51 am
The partnership offers significant benefits for both companies. Zeta Energy’s advanced Li-S materials have the potential to unlock new possibilities for Log9 in improving overall cell performance.
- Nuclear Techniques for the Development of Advanced Materialson May 31, 2022 at 6:00 am
Benefits of advanced materials in the context of climate change Meeting growing energy demand while addressing climate change requires further developments in renewable energy production, storage and ...
- MAT_SCI 381: Energy Materialson May 2, 2015 at 2:30 pm
It first focuses on materials energy content (production, processing, use and recycling), with students developing a short case study in this area. It then describes how advanced materials make ...
via Bing News