nanostructures Archives – The Green Optimistic

Black Silicon Makes Solar Cells More Efficient

Leigh Hutchens — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 06:18:30 +0000

Aalto University scientists have achieved an improvement in light absorption and surface passivation of silicon nanostructures after applying an atomic layer coating. This finding may advance high sensitivity light response devices such as high efficiency solar cells. Researchers detailed their findings in the January issue of Journal of Photovoltaics. Surface passivation is improved by utilizing […]

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Yolk-Shell Nanostructure Design Achieves Staggering Battery Performance

Leigh Hutchens — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 09:00:56 +0000

Stanford and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory scientists have used an ingenious yolk-shell design that allows them to store five times more energy in the sulfur cathode of a rechargeable lithium-ion battery than is currently possible with any other commercial technology. Scientists are optimistic about the design since the cathode had a consistent level of performance […]

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Research Team Aims to Make Tungsten Light Bulbs a Viable Option

Leigh Hutchens — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 07:48:46 +0000

Photonic crystals are periodic optical nanostructures that are designed to affect the motion of photons, similar to the way the periodicity of a semiconductor crystal affects the motion of electrons. Photonic crystals are very useful for increasing the efficiency of photovoltaic cells by absorbing light at certain optimal wavelengths thanks to their ability to control […]

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Solar Cells Efficiency Boosted by Flexible Plastic Nanostructures

Mila Luleva — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 19:12:27 +0000

Cheap and flexible tiny plastic devices hold the key to three times better efficiency of organic solar cells, according to scientists at Princeton. The team led by Stephen Chou, an electrical engineer used metal and plastic sandwich-like nanostructure that collects light. The increase in efficiency was estimated to be 175%. Chou is certain that this […]

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Nanoscale Rainbow Manipulation to Improve Solar Cells and LEDs

Leigh Hutchens — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 07:32:16 +0000

Solar cells and LED displays may get new life, thanks to researchers at King’s College London. The Biophysics and Nanotechnology Group can now separate colors and manipulate rainbows using nanoscale structures on a metal surface. Using specifically designed nanostructures, researchers trapped different colored light in different positions on a nanostructured area. They could then use […]

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New Nanostructures Allow Control of Heat Flow for Greener Electronics

Mila Luleva — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 19:28:31 +0000

New research published in the journal Science earlier this week reveals that heat can travel like waves through new nanostructures called ‘superlattices’. Heat usually travels in the very difficult to control “random walk”. The team of scientists at the MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, present a method by which the flow of heat can be controlled within new […]

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