Papers:
Solar Energy Conversion using a Broad Band Coherent Concentrator with Antenna-Coupled Rectifiers
A wideband coherent optical 1D concentrator, intended for rectennas, has been designed with an integrated photovoltaic array solar cell. Modeled and measured results are presented for a wedge prism coupled SiON waveguide array.
Preparation of ZnO Nanowires for Solar Cells Aplicattion
Fernandes S.L., Zaghete M.A., Graeff C.F.O., Varella J.A., Longo E., UNESP, Universidade Estadual Paulista, BR
So far, the most successful solar cells have been produced using porous nanoparticles combined with TiO2 films. However, ZnO has emerged as a promising alternative to replace TiO2, with marked improvements in performance of the [...]
Nanotechnology Enabled Photovoltaics and Electronics for High-Power-Density Energy Systems
This paper examines nanotechnology-enabled high-power and high-energy density microelectronics, power electronics, energy sources, energy storage solutions. Proof-of-concept self-sustainable power systems are designed with applications in autonomous and portable aerospace, automotive, biotechnology, medical, security and other [...]
Intense Pulsed Light Processing of Semiconductors for Photovoltaics
Thin film solar cells typically require post-growth heat treatment to improve the materials properties. In order to manufacture market competitive solar cells, material processing methods with low capital and running costs are required. One method [...]
Periodic and Psuedo-Random Back-Reflector Nanoparticle Enhanced Light-Trapping in a Silicon Photovoltaic
We consider the light-trapping enhancement of a silicon photovoltaic with conductive nanoparticles of various shapes, sizes and spacing as top-reflectors; used in conjunction with a periodic and a pseudo-random back-reflectors. The nanoparticles in the top-reflector [...]
Improved Nanophotonics Simulation Tools for Light-Trapping in Photovoltaics
Models used in the field of nanoparticle enhanced light-trapping have a wide range of complexity. Often one simply calculates how much power is absorbed in a particular region e.g., a layer of silicon withing a [...]
c-SI Wafer Development: A New Approach to Reduce Costs and Drive Efficiency
The global solar photovoltaic (PV) market is predicted to increase by double digits between 40-45 GW in 2014, according to a forecast from IHS Inc. And by 2015, new installations could reach as high as [...]
Electrical characterization with high spatial resolution of P3HT:PCBM blends used in organic photovoltaics by means of conductive atomic force microscopy
Conductive atomic force microscopy was used to characterize P3HT-PCBM blends in the nanoscale with high spatial resolution. Local spectroscopy scans were obtained and charge carrier mobility was determined.
Application possibility of Parabolic Through Solar Thermal Power Plant technology in North Cyprus
The purpose of this work is to investigate whether the installation of a parabolic through solar thermal power plant technology for power generation is economically feasible in Turkish republic of North Cyprus (T.R.N.C). Since such [...]
Low-cost Transmission, Storage, and Integration for Renewable-source Energy: Hydrogen and Ammonia C-free Fuel Systems with Underground Pipelines, Salt Caverns, and Liquid NH3 Tanks
Solar and wind are the lowest-cost renewable sources, but are intermittent. New, low-cost transmission and storage infrastructure will be needed as we convert the world's largest industry -- energy -- from fossil to renewable sources, [...]
Fabrication of Infrared Energy Harvester Using Electrically Small Particles
A novel structure based on electrically small resonators is proposed for harvesting the infrared energy and yielding more than 84% harvesting efficiency. The proposed harvester has been fabricated using nano-fabrication tools. Moreover, silver adhesion improvement [...]
Synthesis of Visible light Nanocomposites for H2 Production
Visible light active nanocomposites were synthesized by the sol-gel method using non-ionic surfactant as a template. Cr-doped ZrO2-modified coupled ZnO/TiO2 composite was thoroughly characterized for surface area, crystal phase, microstructure, elemental identification and band gap [...]
Solar Energy System Prototype with a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT)
The paper shows the design and implementation of a novel power management unit that combines (mixes) several power harvesting sources and delivers (routes) the power to the working load and the battery. The system can [...]
Hydrogen Generation from Thermochemical Water-Splitting Using Core Shell Ni-Ferrite/Y2O3 Nanoparticles
During thermochemical water-splitting process for hydrogen generation,ferritenanoparticles undergo significant grain growth that reduces their surface area and affect the porous morphology. Consequently, hydrogen volume generation diminishes with increase in thermochemical cycles. In order to mitigate [...]
Ammonia Decomposition over Ni Supported on Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes: Effect of Surface Functional Groups
Zhang H., Alhamed Y., Kojima Y., Al-Zahrani A., Idriss H., Petrov L., Daous M., King Abdulaziz University, SA
Functional groups on the Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) surfaces play an important role in anchoring metal ions. Transition metals such as Fe, Co, Ni supported on MWCNTs with surface carboxyl groups have demonstrated an excellent [...]
Molecular Hydrogen Storage in Fullerenes for Use on Board Fuel Cell Vehicles – A Density Functional Theory Study
Hydrogen gas is a potential fuel to replace gasoline on board vehicles. However, viable storage methods must be developed. Carbon nanomaterials are promising because they are cheap, lightweight and abundant but carbon-hydrogen physisorption is weak [...]
Enhanced fuel cell performance with modified Nafion® membranes
The interaction of Nafion® 212 membrane with a carbocyclic fuel, decalin was studied. Decalin treatment of N212 improved vapor sorption and membrane conductivity. In addition a substantial increase of peak power in a H2/Air fuel [...]
Commercial pilot for closed-loop wastewater treatment and biofuel production using microalgae
In wastewater treatment, significant energy is used to dilute, discharge, or landfill valuable resources. This situation is untenable due to energy costs and global scarcity of clean water. Algae Systems has developed and patented a [...]
Development of the Novel Functionality of Probiotics Fermented Noni Hydrolysates
This study aimed to help the release of functional nutrients from noni fruit by enzymatic hydrolysis, and to subsequently shorten the fermentation time during the biotransformation of some compounds. This study firstly investigated the optimal [...]
Pelletized silica and polyethyleneimine composites for CO2 capture via adsorption
Amine adsorbent powders are of broad interest to facilitate CO2 capture towards reducing atmospheric greenhouse gas. It is recognized, however, that industrial adsorption processes require pelletized rather than powdered adsorbents. Mesoporous silica and branched polyethyleneimine [...]
Capturing and Using CO2 as Feedstock for Clean Chemical Processes Technologies
Chemical-looping technology for capturing CO2 are discussed with critical assessments of the circulating fluidized bed systems and the packed bed reactor with periodic switching of the feed streams of fuel and air. Beside, some industrial [...]
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 3, Nanotechnology 2014: Electronics, Manufacturing, Environment, Energy & Water
Published: June 15, 2014
Industry sector: Energy & Sustainability
Topic: Solar Technologies
ISBN: 978-1-4822-5830-1