News tagged with solar photon

Graetzel cells are implanted in an iPad keyboard

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) from EPFL enter the public market. Logitech chose this technology to power its new flagship product.

Technology / Engineering

created May 29, 2012 | popularity 3 / 5 (4) | comments 0

'Metamaterials,' quantum dots show promise for new technologies

(Phys.org) -- Researchers are edging toward the creation of new optical technologies using "nanostructured metamaterials" capable of ultra-efficient transmission of light, with potential applications including ...

Nanotechnology / Nanophysics

created May 24, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (7) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Folding light: Wrinkles and twists boost power from solar panels

Taking their cue from the humble leaf, researchers have used microscopic folds on the surface of photovoltaic material to significantly increase the power output of flexible, low-cost solar cells.

Physics / Optics & Photonics

created Apr 27, 2012 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (15) | comments 8 | with audio podcast

Stable electrodes for improving printed electronics

Imagine owning a television with the thickness and weight of a sheet of paper. It will be possible, someday, thanks to the growing industry of printed electronics. The process, which allows manufacturers to ...

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

created Apr 19, 2012 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (10) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

The solar cell that also shines: Luminescent 'LED-type' design breaks efficiency record

To produce the maximum amount of energy, solar cells are designed to absorb as much light from the Sun as possible. Now researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, have suggested – and demonstrated ...

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

created Apr 19, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (15) | comments 10 | with audio podcast

Tandem polymer solar cells that set record for energy-conversion

(PhysOrg.com) -- In the effort to convert sunlight into electricity, photovoltaic solar cells that use conductive organic polymers for light absorption and conversion have shown great potential. Organic polymers ...

Physics / Optics & Photonics

created Feb 13, 2012 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (12) | comments 7 | with audio podcast

Scientists report first solar cell producing more electrons in photocurrent than solar photons entering cell

(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have reported the first solar cell that produces a photocurrent that has an external quantum efficiency greater than 100 percent when photoexcited ...

Physics / General Physics

created Dec 15, 2011 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (42) | comments 47 | with audio podcast

Researchers unravel the mystery of quantum dot blinking

(PhysOrg.com) -- Research by Los Alamos scientists published today in the journal Nature documents significant progress in understanding the phenomenon of quantum-dot blinking. Their findings should enhanc ...

Nanotechnology / Nanophysics

created Nov 09, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (12) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Solar concentrator increases collection with less loss

(PhysOrg.com) -- Converting sunlight into electricity is not economically attractive because of the high cost of solar cells, but a recent, purely optical approach to improving luminescent solar concentrators ...

Physics / Optics & Photonics

created Nov 02, 2011 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (9) | comments 2 | with audio podcast

NASA to test new solar sail technology

Solar sails, much like anti-matter and ion engines appear at first glance to only exist in science fiction. Many technologies from science fiction however, become science fact.

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Oct 14, 2011 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (8) | comments 9

Small defects mean big problems for industrial solar cells

Nanoscale clustering of metal impurities at intragranular dislocations within industrial mc-Si solar cells have been observed by users from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology working with the Center ...

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

created Oct 13, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Researchers discover technique to improve solar cell technology

A multi-disciplinary team of scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory has discovered a way to tailor nanostructures that could result in low-cost, high efficiency solar cells. The research appears in the ...

Nanotechnology / Nanophysics

created Oct 12, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Optofluidics could improve energy applications

(PhysOrg.com) -- The ability to manipulate light and fluids on a single chip, broadly called "optofluidics," has led to such technologies as liquid-crystal displays and liquid-filled optical fibers for fast ...

Physics / Optics & Photonics

created Sep 13, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

New 3-D photonic crystal has both electronic, optical properties

In an advance that could open new avenues for solar cells, lasers, metamaterials and more, researchers at the University of Illinois have demonstrated the first optoelectronically active 3-D photonic crystal.

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Jul 24, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (15) | comments 4 | with audio podcast

Researchers crack full-spectrum solar challenge

In a paper published in Nature Photonics, U of T Engineering researchers report a new solar cell that may pave the way to inexpensive coatings that efficiently convert the sun's rays to electricity.

Physics / Optics & Photonics

created Jun 26, 2011 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (24) | comments 9 | with audio podcast