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Home > News > Solar Panels Evolve With The Advent Of Nanomaterials

April 10th, 2010

Solar Panels Evolve With The Advent Of Nanomaterials

Abstract:
The biggest new word in solar these days is the littlest—nano. A host of spiffy names describe the newest achievements in creating low-cost, high power, lightweight photovoltaic panels. Quantum dots, nanowires, nanoantenna, carbon nanotubes, and multiple quantum wells, all are at the heart of this evolution in solar cells. One company has even developed spray-on photovoltaic material using nanotechnology.

Nano materials are developed on a nearly atomic scale and are visible only under electron microscopes. By developing highly efficient materials on such a small scale, scientists are able to greatly reduce the amount of materials needed to make a photovoltaic cell, hence reducing production and materials costs. Right now, many of these nearly submicroscopic materials are being tested and researched to determine if they are more cost-efficient than crystalline silicon or thin-film photovoltaics.

Source:
coolerplanet.com

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