Solar Technologies – Page 7 – TechConnect Briefs

Intense Pulsed Light Processing of Semiconductors for Photovoltaics

Druffel T., Dharmadasa R., University of Louisville, US

Thin film solar cells typically require post-growth heat treatment to improve the materials properties. In order to manufacture market competitive solar cells, material processing methods with low capital and running costs are required. One method [...]

Nanotechnology Enabled Photovoltaics and Electronics for High-Power-Density Energy Systems

Smith T.C., Lyshevski S.E., Rochester Institute of Technology, US

This paper examines nanotechnology-enabled high-power and high-energy density microelectronics, power electronics, energy sources, energy storage solutions. Proof-of-concept self-sustainable power systems are designed with applications in autonomous and portable aerospace, automotive, biotechnology, medical, security and other [...]

Preparation of ZnO Nanowires for Solar Cells Aplicattion

Fernandes S.L., Zaghete M.A., Graeff C.F.O., Varella J.A., Longo E., UNESP, Universidade Estadual Paulista, BR

So far, the most successful solar cells have been produced using porous nanoparticles combined with TiO2 films. However, ZnO has emerged as a promising alternative to replace TiO2, with marked improvements in performance of the [...]

Solar Energy Conversion using a Broad Band Coherent Concentrator with Antenna-Coupled Rectifiers

Bodan P., AMI Research and Development, US

A wideband coherent optical 1D concentrator, intended for rectennas, has been designed with an integrated photovoltaic array solar cell. Modeled and measured results are presented for a wedge prism coupled SiON waveguide array.

Solar Power, Fuel Cells, Renewables & Carbon Capture

Enhancement of GaAs solar cell efficiency by type-II GaSb quantum dots located outside of the depletion region

Kechiantz A., Afanasev A., Lazzari J.-L., The George Washington University, US

Experiments have shown that extrinsic intermediate band (IB) states, for instance, formed by artificial quantum dots (QDs), located in the depletion region participate in electron-hole recombination. This facilitates dramatically the dark current and reduces the [...]

A Focused Super-Continuum Solar Simulator for Illuminated Solar Cell Microscopy

Dennis T., National Institute of Standards and Technology, US

The design and application of a novel, focused solar simulator based on a high-power, super-continuum laser is described. We used the simulator to create micrometer-scale spatial maps of full-spectrum optical beam induced current (FS-OBIC) in [...]

Water Splitting for H2 Production using Visible-light-responsive Photocatalysts

Huang J., Zhang G., Zhang W., Zhang G., Zhang W., Wang P., Minakata D., Chen Y., Crittenden J., New Jersey Institute of Technology, US

Hydrogen (H2) production using visible-light photocatalysis for water splitting has attracted considerable attention owing to the growing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable energy sources. This presentation will demonstrate our previous study on H2 production [...]

Efficient broadband conversion via quantum dots with built-in charge

Sergeev A., Sablon K., Vagidov N., Little J., Mitin V., University at Buffalo, US

Recently proposed by ARL – University at Buffalo team, the Q-BIC technology is a promising basis for developing high-efficiency, broadband (all-weather), rugged, light-weight, scalable, and relatively inexpensive single-junction solar cells capable of converting of 35 [...]

Silver Nanowires for Plasmon Induced Enhancement of Optical Absorption in Thin-Film Silicon Solar Cells

Mailhes R., Institut des Nanotechnologies de Lyon (INL), FR

Plasmonic effects for photovoltaics are investigated through this communication. We present here an innovative design with integrated silver nanocylinders located at the rear side of a thin crystalline silicon cell. Numerical simulations (FDTD) show that [...]