Method for Treating Surface of Nanoparticles Greatly Improves Efficiency of Organic Solar Cells
Summary posted by Meridian on 2/2/2010
Source: AZoNano.com
Author: n/a
Researchers at the Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) and the Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), both in Germany, have developed a method for treating the surface of nanoparticles that greatly improves the efficiency of organic solar cells. They were able to attain an efficiency of 2 percent using quantum dots of cadmium selenide, well above previous efficiency ratings of 1 to 1.8 percent. Their method could theoretically apply to many nanoparticles, opening the potential for increasing the efficiency of this type of cell even further. Organic solar cells have many advantages over the traditional silicon cells that are currently used for large-scale energy production, because they are thinner and more flexible, less expensive and quicker to produce. Improving their efficiency over that of conventional silicon cells is paramount, as the organic cells are better suited to powering everyday devices and systems that are not in constant use, and could, eventually, drastically reduce our dependence on batteries and cables. The research team has patented their procedure and the results have been published in the journal Applied Physics Letters. The article can be viewed online at the link below.
The original article may still be available at www.azonano.com/news.asp?newsID=15730
As tagged by Meridian Institute:
Energy:
Energy, Batteries, Solar
Implications:
Human Enhancement, Governance, Economic Competitiveness
Materials And Manufacturing:
Manufacturing, Materials
Nanomaterials:
Metal Nanoparticle
Regions:
Europe
Stakeholders:
Government, Academia
Minerals And Metals:
Metals
Related Forums:
3rd International Seminar on Nanosciences and Nanotechnology
-- Seminario Naotecnologias Cuba (7/29/2010) The 3rd International Seminar on Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, organized by the Office of the Scientific Advisor to the State Council of the Republic of Cuba and the Center for Advanced Cuban Studes (CEAC), will take place from September 6-10, 2010, in Havana, Cuba. The aim of the conference is to open new paths of cooperation for the development of CEAC, consolidate existent and emerging networks in the country, and provide elements for the design of a national strategy in this field. [More]
Super-sizing a Cancer Drug Minimizes Side Effects
-- MIT News (7/29/2010) Scientists at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (HST) have designed a new version of the drug cisplatin, one of the first chemotherapy drugs given to patients diagnosed with cancer, that spares the kidneys, allowing doctors to use higher doses. [More]
An Asphalt Pact Cut Fumes—& Created A Model
-- New Haven Independent (7/29/2010) At a recent conference hosted by the United States National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), convened to talk about the potential health hazards in the nanotechnology industry, a successful partnership between government, industry, and workers to tackle worker safety in the asphalt industry was looked to as a possible model for addressing worker safety in the nanotechnology industry. [More]
Nanomagnets Remove Pathogens from Blood
-- Nanowerk (7/28/2010) Researchers from the Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering of the ETH Zurich, Switzerland, have demonstrated a novel use of nanomagnets to rapidly and selectively remove heavy metal ions, overdosed steroid drugs and proteins from human blood. [More]
Learn how to include these headlines on your own website by clicking here.
Please email us if you require text-only versions of the daily emails.
