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LEDs made from 'wonder material' perovskite

Tue, 08/05/2014 - 12:21pm
Colourful LEDs made from a material known as perovskite could lead to LED displays which are both cheaper and easier to manufacture in future. A hybrid form of perovskite -- the same type of material which has recently been found to make highly efficient solar cells that could one day replace silicon -- has been used to make low-cost, easily manufactured LEDs, potentially opening up a wide range of commercial applications in future, such as flexible color displays.

New material allows for ultra-thin solar cells

Mon, 08/04/2014 - 5:59am
Extremely thin, semi-transparent, flexible solar cells could soon become reality. Scientists have managed to create a semiconductor structure consisting of two ultra-thin layers, which appears to be excellently suited for photovoltaic energy conversion. Several months ago, the team had already produced an ultra-thin layer of the photoactive crystal tungsten diselenide. Now, this semiconductor has successfully been combined with another layer made of molybdenum disulphide, creating a designer-material that may be used in future low-cost solar cells.


Thu, 07/31/2014 - 10:10am

Solar energy: Dyes help harvest light

Wed, 07/30/2014 - 9:40am
A new dye-sensitized solar cell absorbs a broad range of visible and infrared wavelengths. Dye-sensitized solar cells rely on dyes that absorb light to mobilize a current of electrons and are a promising source of clean energy. Scientists have now developed zinc porphyrin dyes that harvest light in both the visible and near-infrared parts of the spectrum.

Superman's solar-powered feats break a fundamental law of physics

Wed, 07/30/2014 - 8:38am
It goes without saying that Superman can accomplish some pretty spectacular feats. But according to students, the Man of Steel actually achieves the impossible--by breaking the fundamental physics law of conservation of energy.

Worldwide water shortage by 2040

Tue, 07/29/2014 - 8:31am


Thu, 07/24/2014 - 8:39pm
A new material structure generates steam by soaking up the sun. The structure -- a layer of graphite flakes and an underlying carbon foam -- is a porous, insulating material structure that floats on water. When sunlight hits the structure's surface, it creates a hotspot in the graphite, drawing water up through the material's pores, where it evaporates as steam. The brighter the light, the more steam is generated.

How to power California with wind, water and sun

Thu, 07/24/2014 - 1:43pm

Spinach could lead to alternative energy more powerful than Popeye

Wed, 07/23/2014 - 2:20pm

Self-cooling solar cells boost power, last longer

Tue, 07/22/2014 - 9:22am


Thu, 07/17/2014 - 2:15pm
Scientists have made a very efficient perovskite solar cell that does not require a hole-conducting layer. The novel photovoltaic achieved energy conversion efficiency of 12.8 percent and was stable for over 1000 hours under full sunlight. The innovation is expected to significantly reduce the cost of these promising solar cells.

Clearing the way for extremely efficient solar cells: First ab initio method for characterizing hot carriers

Thu, 07/17/2014 - 1:20pm
Researchers have developed the first ab initio method for characterizing the properties of 'hot carriers' in semiconductors. This should help clear a major road block to the development of new, more efficient solar cells.

Deep within spinach leaves, vibrations enhance efficiency of photosynthesis

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 2:55pm