Solar cells made of perovskite are at the center of much recent solar research. The material is cheap, easy to produce and almost as efficient as silicon, the material traditionally used in solar cells. However, perovskite cells have a love-hate-relationship with the sun. The light that they need to generate electricity, also impairs the quality of the cells, severely limiting … [Read more...] about Understanding the love-hate relationship of halide perovskites with the sun
Liquid metal synthesis for better piezoelectrics: Atomically-thin tin-monosulfide
RMIT-UNSW collaboration applies liquid-metal synthesis to piezoelectrics, advancing future flexible, wearable electronics, and biosensors drawing their power from the body's movements. Materials such as atomically-thin tin-monosulfide (SnS) are predicted to exhibit strong piezoelectric properties, converting mechanical forces or movement into electrical energy. This property, … [Read more...] about Liquid metal synthesis for better piezoelectrics: Atomically-thin tin-monosulfide
Purifying water with the help of wood, bacteria and the sun
According to the United Nations, about one-fifth of the world's population lives in areas where water is scarce. Therefore, technologies to produce clean water from undrinkable sources, such as seawater, river or lake water, and contaminated water, are urgently needed. Now, researchers have developed a wood-based steam generator that, with the help of bacterial-produced … [Read more...] about Purifying water with the help of wood, bacteria and the sun
Microscopic structures could improve perovskite solar cells
Solar cells based on perovskite compounds could soon make electricity generation from sunlight even more efficient and cheaper. The laboratory efficiency of these perovskite solar cells already exceeds that of the well-known silicon solar cells. An international team led by Stefan Weber from the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz has found microscopic structures … [Read more...] about Microscopic structures could improve perovskite solar cells
Cooling mechanism increases solar energy harvesting for self-powered outdoor sensors
Sensors placed in the environment spend long periods of time outdoors through all weather conditions, and they must continuously power themselves in order to collect data. Many, like photovoltaic cells, use the sun to produce electricity, but powering outdoor sensors at night is a challenge. Thermoelectric devices, which use the temperature difference between the top and bottom … [Read more...] about Cooling mechanism increases solar energy harvesting for self-powered outdoor sensors