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solar power

12/04/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Is this the end of de-icing? Passive solar-powered system prevents freezing on airplanes and other surfaces

When ice builds up in your home or office, you either fire up the power-intensive heaters or resort to chemical sprays that will damage the environment. So American researchers recently developed an alternative de-icing system that draws upon the heat of the sun to keep ice from forming on important items, an article in Science […]

11/29/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Scientists: Solar-powered water splitting is a promising means of generating clean energy

Water is already a vital component of human life, but scientists have found yet another use for it — as a source of clean fuel. It comprises two oxygen atoms and a hydrogen atom — the latter, in particular, is an increasingly popular energy source because it is easily stored and holds a lot of energy. […]

11/22/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Study explores semi-artificial photosynthesis; a new way to produce and store solar energy

Researchers found a better way to squeeze more electricity out of solar power. An article in Science Daily described how they modified photosynthesis so that it could split water into its component molecules. In the photosynthetic process, sunlight is used by plants, some bacteria, and certain protists to turn carbon dioxide and water into food. Oxygen is […]

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 […]

06/21/2018 / By Edsel Cook

New nanoscale coating for solar cells able to absorb 20 percent more sunlight

You may have heard of whispering galleries like the National Statuary Hall in the Capitol Building, where you can hear what’s being said on the other side of the half-dome. Maryland researchers created a nanoscale coating that traps light in a similar way, an article in Science Daily states. When applied on a solar cell, the […]

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 […]

04/28/2018 / By Jessica Dolores

We could soon harvest energy from leaves fluttering in the wind

Most people dismiss stray leaves fluttering in the wind as one of those everyday, ordinary things. They seldom stop and take a second look unless it’s autumn, and leaves burst into flaming colors of orange, red, yellow, and purple. But do you know that the humble leaf can someday be a source of light energy? […]

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 […]

04/07/2018 / By David Williams

Researchers discover a method to generate power from falling raindrops

Solar panels have proven to be highly effective sources of electricity, and they are shaping up to be the absolute best source of renewable energy now and in the future. A team of researchers wants to improve it even further, and now they’ve announced their latest innovation: Solar panels that can generate power from falling […]

04/01/2018 / By David Williams

Layered oxides may be the key to extending the life of the environmentally-friendly zinc-ion battery

The future of battery storage technology hangs in the balance. The standard lithium-ion battery technology that is widely used today, as it turns out, may not be the best solution for large-scale applications due to a number of reasons. Now a team of researchers has developed a way to create a viable alternative, in the […]

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