#solar power
Fast-moving electrons create current in organic solar cells
Researchers at Purdue University have identified the mechanism that allows organic solar cells to create a charge, solving a longstanding puzzle in physics, according to a paper published Friday (Jan. 12) in the journal Science Advances.
Organic solar cells are built with soft molecules, while inorganic solar cells, often silicon-based, are built with more rigid materials. Silicon cells currently dominate the industry, but they’re expensive and stiff, while organic cells have the potential to be light, flexible and cheap. The drawback is that creating an electric current in organic cells is much more difficult.
To create an electrical current, two particles, one with a negative charge (electron) and one with a positive charge (electron-hole), must separate despite being bound tightly together. These two particles, which together form an exciton, usually require a manmade interface to separate them. The interface draws the electron through an electron acceptor and leaves the hole behind. Even with the interface in place, the electron and hole are still attracted to each other – there’s another mechanism that helps them separate.
“We discovered that this type of electron-hole interface is not one single static state. The electron and the hole can be far apart or close together, and the farther apart they are, the more likely they are to separate,” said Libai Huang, an assistant professor of chemistry in Purdue’s College of Science, who led the research. “When they’re far apart, they’re actually very mobile, and they can move pretty fast. We think that this kind of fast motion between the positive and negative charge is what’s driving separation at these interfaces.”
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Tiny device grabs more solar energy to disinfect water faster
In many parts of the world, the only way to make germy water safe is by boiling, which consumes precious fuel, or by putting it out in the sun in a plastic bottle so ultraviolet rays will kill the microbes. But because UV rays carry only 4 percent of the sun’s total energy, the UV method takes six to 48 hours, limiting the amount of water people can disinfect this way.
Now researchers at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University have created a nanostructured device, about half the size of a postage stamp, that disinfects water much faster than the UV method by also making use of the visible part of the solar spectrum, which contains 50 percent of the sun’s energy.
In experiments reported today in Nature Nanotechnology, sunlight falling on the little device triggered the formation of hydrogen peroxide and other disinfecting chemicals that killed more than 99.999 percent of bacteria in just 20 minutes. When their work was done the killer chemicals quickly dissipated, leaving pure water behind.
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For all the promise they have shown in the lab, polymer solar cells still need to “get on a roll” like the ones employed in printing newspapers so that large sheets of acceptably efficient photovoltaic devices can be manufactured continuously and economically. Polymer solar cells offer adv…
Two Layers Are Better Than One for Efficient Solar Cells – Affordable, Thin Film Solar Cells With 34% Efficiency
Solar cells have come a long way, but inexpensive, thin film solar cells are still far behind more expensive, crystalline solar cells in efficiency. Now, a team of researchers suggests that using two thin films of different materials may be the way to go to create affordable, thin film cells with about 34% efficiency.
“Ten years ago I knew very little about solar cells, but it became clear to me they were very important,” said Akhlesh Lakhtakia, Evan Pugh University Professor and Charles Godfrey Binder Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Penn State.
Investigating the field, he found that researchers approached solar cells from two sides, the optical side — looking on how the sun’s light is collected — and the electrical side — looking at how the collected sunlight is converted into electricity. Optical researchers strive to optimize light capture, while electrical researchers strive to optimize conversion to electricity, both sides simplifying the other.
“I decided to create a model in which both electrical and optical aspects will be treated equally,” said Lakhtakia. “We needed to increase actual efficiency, because if the efficiency of a cell is less than 30% it isn’t going to make a difference.” The researchers report their results in a recent issue of Applied Physics Letters.
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Science of Solar Racing
The World races. Earth wins!Why would one of the biggest innovation companies in the world spend its time and treasure to help a bunch of solar savvy students race across the Australian Outback? The reason is simple. By taking its solar forecasting and cognitive technologies out of the research lab and onto the World Solar Challenge raceway, IBM scientists and engineers will be able to start learning from these extreme experiences to better normalize solar power into a dependable part of our electrical energy grid. That could mean less fossil fuels, less carbon emissions and less money spent on your energy bill. It’s a win-win-win.
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Amor…
lorde literally said fuck you im not helping you navigate your early 20s do it yourself. here are some vibes.
I’m still waiting for her company and guidance through it
Renewable electricity powered California just shy of 100% for the first time in history
“Environmentalists who’ve pushed for years for all of California’s power to come from renewables were jubilant as they watched the tracker edge to 100% and slightly beyond.”
Thanks@walking-on-a-scream for the submission!
When Lorde said, “I thought I was a genius, but now I’m twenty-two.” and when Lorde said, “I’m tryna get well from the inside.” and when she said, “We had no idea the dreams we had were far too big.” and when she said, “‘Cause we are all broken and sad.”
Singer Akon has launched a solar energy project that will supply electricity to 600 million Africans http://akonlightingafrica.com/
The Chinese solar power company Panda Green Energy built a giant solar installation as an adorable PR stunt. The top photo in an artist’s rendering, but the real one can be seen in the bottom photo.
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travei meu computador inteiro pra fazer isso LORDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
de um like para essa pobre mizerável (eu
like or reblog if you use/save xx
don’t repost
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