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solar cells

12/06/2018 / By Edsel Cook

“Solar flow battery” soaks up sunlight and stores it as energy for on-demand use

A joint effort between American and Saudi Arabian researchers produced a gadget that combines the functions of a battery and a solar cell. They reported that their “solar flow battery” can absorb sunlight, convert it into chemical energy, and hold the energy until there is need for it. The Science Daily article explained that the […]

09/21/2018 / By Isabelle Z.

Next-gen solar cells use bacteria that convert light into energy

Solar power has a lot of benefits, but one big downside is the fact that places where it’s overcast more often than not can’t make the most of this clean power source. All that could be set to change, however, as scientists in often-cloudy British Columbia have found a way to use E. coli bacteria […]

07/12/2018 / By David Williams

Polymer solar cells can’t compete with silicon but they will serve a different function

As the solar industry keeps growing bigger, the search for more efficient and more cost-effective solar panel construction materials goes on as well. There are a number of known alternatives available on the market, but none of them can quite come close to the standard material of choice – silicon. Still, there is a case […]

06/08/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Researchers develop organic solar cell patches that are so thin they can be heat-printed onto shirts

In a few year’s time, you could be wearing an efficient solar cell on your clothes that is just as thin, light, and flexible as a T-shirt design. In a report from The Mainichi, a Japanese research team recent showcased a new ultra-thin organic photovoltaic (OPV) cell that can be heat-printed onto fabric. The new […]

05/16/2018 / By David Williams

Improvements in solar cell technologies increase their lifespan tenfold

As the saying goes: “All good things come to an end.” Solar panel technology is certainly no exception – this doesn’t mean that solar power technology is about to go away soon, but that solar cell technologies currently offer limited lifespans that can still be greatly improved. Now, new research shows exactly how it can be […]

04/21/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Scientists have developed new semiconductors that are more environmentally friendly

Concerned with the prevalence of useful but toxic perovskites in photovoltaic cells, a group of Iowa-based researchers devised alternative materials. They reported creating cheaper and eco-friendly semiconductors with similar performance, according to a ScienceDaily article. Perovskites are light-gathering materials used as semiconductors in solar panels. While highly efficient – called “wonder materials” by the solar […]

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