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Science Forum Index » Energy Forum » Yet another one for the geewhiz file
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| H. E. Taylor |
 Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2003 8:32 pm |
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2003/11/03: Eureka: Physics tip sheet #38 - 1) Most efficient solar cells
made possible by new material
[URL: <http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-11/aps-pts110303.php>]
"A new semiconductor material could lead to solar cells with efficiencies up to 56%,
a huge improvement over current solar cells, which convert only about 30% of light
into power. In standard solar cells, light absorbed by the cell is converted to power
by knocking loose an electron, allowing current to flow. Based on the properties of
the particular semiconductor material used in the cell, the light must have a certain
amount of energy, called the band gap, to knock an electron loose. Light with lower
energy will not be absorbed; light with higher energy will be absorbed, but the extra
energy will be wasted. The new material, a ZnMnTe crystal with added oxygen impurities,
has three band gaps instead of one, and thus takes advantage of a much larger range
of the solar energy spectrum. The researchers synthesized the material using a novel
technique called oxygen ion implantation and pulsed laser melting. Adjusting the
amount of oxygen in the material varies the band gap to optimize power conversion."
The article itself is supposed to show up on Physical Review Letters
<http://prl.aps.org/> but I don't see it there yet.
<regards>
-het
--
"It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday
is the hope of today and reality of tomorrow." - Robert Goddard
PV FAQ: http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/energy/pv_faq.html
H.E. Taylor http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/ |
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| G. R. L. Cowan |
| Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2003 8:32 pm |
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"H. E. Taylor" wrote:
Quote:
2003/11/03: Eureka: Physics tip sheet #38 - 1) Most efficient solar cells
made possible by new material
[URL: <http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-11/aps-pts110303.php>]
"A new semiconductor material could lead to solar cells with efficiencies up to 56%,
a huge improvement over current solar cells, which convert only about 30% of light
into power. In standard solar cells, light absorbed by the cell is converted to power
by knocking loose an electron, allowing current to flow. Based on the properties of
the particular semiconductor material used in the cell, the light must have a certain
amount of energy, called the band gap, to knock an electron loose. Light with lower
energy will not be absorbed; light with higher energy will be absorbed, but the extra
energy will be wasted. The new material, a ZnMnTe
Telluride, eh?
Savings on not acquiring and handling tellurium will.
I think, be large compared to the cost of 26/30ths more PV area.
--- Graham Cowan
http://www.eagle.ca/~gcowan/Paper_for_11th_CHC.doc --
how cars gain nuclear cachet |
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| H. E. Taylor |
| Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2003 3:02 am |
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In article <3FA6E8B0.87FF4638@eagle.ca>,
<gcowan@eagle.ca> G. R. L. Cowan wrote:
Quote: "H. E. Taylor" wrote:
2003/11/03: Eureka: Physics tip sheet #38 - 1) Most efficient solar cells
made possible by new material
[URL: <http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-11/aps-pts110303.php>]
"A new semiconductor material could lead to solar cells with efficiencies up to 56%,
a huge improvement over current solar cells, which convert only about 30% of light
into power. In standard solar cells, light absorbed by the cell is converted to power
by knocking loose an electron, allowing current to flow. Based on the properties of
the particular semiconductor material used in the cell, the light must have a certain
amount of energy, called the band gap, to knock an electron loose. Light with lower
energy will not be absorbed; light with higher energy will be absorbed, but the extra
energy will be wasted. The new material, a ZnMnTe
Telluride, eh?
Savings on not acquiring and handling tellurium will.
I think, be large compared to the cost of 26/30ths more PV area.
Hi Graham,
I'm not sure if you're saying tellurium is expensive
or hazardous or both. The online references I found
<http://pearl1.lanl.gov/periodic/elements/52.html>
are not specific about hazards.
The figure of 30% efficiency is misleading, btw, as
I am sure you know. Most commercial PV sold is 10-15%,
which would change your percentage somewhat.
<regards>
-het
--
"If God wanted us to believe we were related to chimpanzees,
he'd have given us DNA 95% identical to theirs." -stolen .sig
PV FAQ: http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/energy/pv_faq.html
H.E. Taylor http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/ |
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