Solar Technologies – Page 6 – TechConnect Briefs

Solar Energy System Prototype with a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT)

Abdelmoaty A.A., Helmy A., Rezk A.A., Ismail Y., The American University in Cairo, EG

The paper shows the design and implementation of a novel power management unit that combines (mixes) several power harvesting sources and delivers (routes) the power to the working load and the battery. The system can [...]

Synthesis of Novel Functionalized-Graphene/Quantum Dots Hybrid System for Solar Cells Application

Babkair S.S., Khan M.T., Azam A., kau, SA

In the recent years functionalize graphene and inorganic quantum dots have emerged as strong acceptor material for the organic solar cells. But the power conversion efficiency of the devices based on these materials is still [...]

Synthesis of Visible light Nanocomposites for H2 Production

Hussein A.M., Shende R.V., South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, US

Visible light active nanocomposites were synthesized by the sol-gel method using non-ionic surfactant as a template. Cr-doped ZrO2-modified coupled ZnO/TiO2 composite was thoroughly characterized for surface area, crystal phase, microstructure, elemental identification and band gap [...]

Fabrication of Infrared Energy Harvester Using Electrically Small Particles

AlShareef M.R., Cui B., Ramahi O., University of Waterloo, CA

A novel structure based on electrically small resonators is proposed for harvesting the infrared energy and yielding more than 84% harvesting efficiency. The proposed harvester has been fabricated using nano-fabrication tools. Moreover, silver adhesion improvement [...]

Low-cost Transmission, Storage, and Integration for Renewable-source Energy: Hydrogen and Ammonia C-free Fuel Systems with Underground Pipelines, Salt Caverns, and Liquid NH3 Tanks

Leighty B., The Leighty Foundation, US

Solar and wind are the lowest-cost renewable sources, but are intermittent. New, low-cost transmission and storage infrastructure will be needed as we convert the world's largest industry -- energy -- from fossil to renewable sources, [...]

Application possibility of Parabolic Through Solar Thermal Power Plant technology in North Cyprus

Cabacaba N., Dağbaşı M., Cabacaba Yenilenebilir Enerji Sistemleri, CY

The purpose of this work is to investigate whether the installation of a parabolic through solar thermal power plant technology for power generation is economically feasible in Turkish republic of North Cyprus (T.R.N.C). Since such [...]

Electrical characterization with high spatial resolution of P3HT:PCBM blends used in organic photovoltaics by means of conductive atomic force microscopy

Omar Y.M., Chiesa M., Apostoleris H.N., Al Ghaferi A., Masdar Institute, AE

Conductive atomic force microscopy was used to characterize P3HT-PCBM blends in the nanoscale with high spatial resolution. Local spectroscopy scans were obtained and charge carrier mobility was determined.

c-SI Wafer Development: A New Approach to Reduce Costs and Drive Efficiency

Zehavi S., Rockpoint PR, US

The global solar photovoltaic (PV) market is predicted to increase by double digits between 40-45 GW in 2014, according to a forecast from IHS Inc. And by 2015, new installations could reach as high as [...]

Improved Nanophotonics Simulation Tools for Light-Trapping in Photovoltaics

Shepard S., Rubaiat F., Louisiana Tech University, US

Models used in the field of nanoparticle enhanced light-trapping have a wide range of complexity. Often one simply calculates how much power is absorbed in a particular region e.g., a layer of silicon withing a [...]

Periodic and Psuedo-Random Back-Reflector Nanoparticle Enhanced Light-Trapping in a Silicon Photovoltaic

Shepard S., Patel L., Rubaiat F., Louisiana Tech University, US

We consider the light-trapping enhancement of a silicon photovoltaic with conductive nanoparticles of various shapes, sizes and spacing as top-reflectors; used in conjunction with a periodic and a pseudo-random back-reflectors. The nanoparticles in the top-reflector [...]