Home > News > Instant Insight: Solar energy turns organic
June 19th, 2008
Instant Insight: Solar energy turns organic
Abstract:
Cheap and efficient conversion of solar energy into electricity could help combat global warming and the shortage of fossil fuels. However, the high production cost of electricity from silicon-based solar cells has limited the use of the technology. Low cost solar cells with high cell performance are highly desirable and organic solar cells could be the answer. They are easy to make from inexpensive organic materials and, unlike inorganic solar cells, are lightweight, flexible and colourful.
Light absorption by organic solar cells leads to an excitation state known as an exciton or electron-hole pair. The electrons and holes are separated from each other and carried through donor and acceptor molecules to the electrodes, generating a photocurrent. This process of converting light directly into electricity is known as photovoltaics and it must be optimised for organic solar cells to be efficient. Much effort has been devoted to finding suitable donor and acceptor molecules and organising them on an electrode surface at the nanometre scale.
Source:
rsc.org
Bookmark:
News and information
Pioneering breakthrough of chemical nanoengineering to design drugs controlled by light June 18th, 2013
Study Shows How the Nanog Protein Promotes Growth of Head and Neck Cancer June 18th, 2013
New Method to Synthesize Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with High Catalytic Activity June 18th, 2013
Production of Polyaniline Biosensors Modified with Conductive Polymer Composites June 18th, 2013
Discoveries
Which qubit my dear? New method to distinguish between neighbouring quantum bits June 18th, 2013
Pioneering breakthrough of chemical nanoengineering to design drugs controlled by light June 18th, 2013
Study Shows How the Nanog Protein Promotes Growth of Head and Neck Cancer June 18th, 2013
New Method to Synthesize Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with High Catalytic Activity June 18th, 2013
Announcements
Pioneering breakthrough of chemical nanoengineering to design drugs controlled by light June 18th, 2013
Study Shows How the Nanog Protein Promotes Growth of Head and Neck Cancer June 18th, 2013
New Method to Synthesize Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with High Catalytic Activity June 18th, 2013
Production of Polyaniline Biosensors Modified with Conductive Polymer Composites June 18th, 2013
Energy
Polymer-coated catalyst protects "artificial leaf" June 17th, 2013
Efficient and inexpensive: Researchers develop catalyst material for fuel cells: Platinum-nickel nano-octahedra save 90 percent platinum June 17th, 2013
Nanoparticles helping to recover more oil June 15th, 2013
Nanoparticle Opens the Door to Clean-Energy Alternatives June 14th, 2013
Solar/Photovoltaic
Polymer-coated catalyst protects "artificial leaf" June 17th, 2013
Further research on effects of nanomaterials: BASF participates in BMBF research project on safety of nanomaterials: Results allow easier and faster evaluation of nanoparticle behavior June 12th, 2013
Graphene and semiconductor technology together: smaller, cheaper, better June 12th, 2013
Space Solar Power: Key to a Livable Planet Earth June 10th, 2013