07-12-2016, 04:04 AM
Researchers have found a way to boost the efficiency of perovskite solar cells to 31%. Solar cells using perovskite materials are inexpensive and easy to fabricate and the efficiency at which they convert photons to electricity has increased more rapidly than any other material to date, starting at 3% in 2009 and rising to 22% today. A team at the Molecular Foundry and the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, both at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley, CA), used atomic force microscopy image of the surface of a perovskite solar cell to show a new path to much greater efficiency from manipulating the individual grain boundaries.
Perovskite solar cell discovery promises dramatic efficiency boost | Electronics EETimes
In Harvard University’s Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, the goal isn’t just to isolate problems but to find solutions to our planet’s most pressing issues. One of those issues is how to generate efficient, renewable energy — and researchers may have just found a solution in a device dubbed “bionic leaf 2.0” because it functions even more efficiently than the fastest-growing natural plants. They’ve published a paper detailing their work in the journal Science this week.
Bionic Leaf 2.0 Makes Nature Seem Inefficient | Digital Trends
Solar power is fast becoming a more energy efficient green power conversion source, but mainly in sunny places. A breakthrough with graphene could extend that reach to muggier climates thanks to rain energy harnessing solar cells. Graphene is a relatively new material that’s proving to be a wonder. Thanks to its high conductivity and structure it has been used to create solar cells that not only use sun for power, but rain too.
Solar panels that also use rain for power could change the UK forever - Pocket-lint