Solar cells and nanosolar cells comparison

1. Photovoltaic Solar Cells
Sources:
http://www.irishsilicon.com/solar_powered_house_small.jpg
http://ideastoenlighten.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/solar-lamp1.jpg
http://web.tradekorea.com/upload_file/prod/emp/200905/oimg_GC03547342_CA03547399.jpg
http://inhabitat.com/files/blue-car-ed01.jpg
http://www.greatgreengadgets.com/gadgets/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/SUNWHISPERmow.jpg
http://www.talk2myshirt.com/blog/image-upload/DIY_Solarbag/make_your_own_solarbag.JPG
http://www.infoniac.com/uimg/solar-powered-camcorder-infoniac.jpg

2. Solar Energy
CLEAN & RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCED BY THE SUN
Sources:
http://www.thefuture-energy.com/EnergyResource.gif

3. How Solar Electricity
Works
Sources:
http://homessolarpower.alancho2310.com/images/HomesSolarPower4.jpg

4. Solar Cells
ELECTRICAL DEVICES THAT CONVERT THE ENERGY OF LIGHT DIRECTLY INTO ELECTRICITY
Sources:
http://www.pvsolarchina.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Solar-cell-type.jpg
http://www.pipkinelectric.com/picts/pv_solar_module_efficiency_chart.jpg
http://www.applied-solar.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/various_types_of_solar_cells.jpg

5. Silicon-based
Solar Cells
Light with This separation
Energy is given The energy
energy greater A positive “hole” of electrons and
to an electron in excites the
than the band is left in the holes creates a
the crystal electron; it is
gap energy of Si electron’s place voltage and a
lattice free to move
is absorbed current
Sources:
http://nanosense.org/activities/cleanenergy/solarcellanimation.html
http://www.nanosense.org/activities/cleanenergy/solarenergy/CE_SolarSlides.ppt
http://www.reuk.co.uk/OtherImages/solar-cell-in-panel-kit.jpg

6. Dye-sensitized
Solar Cells
Excited electrons
Light with high infuse into Separation of
Positive “holes”
enough energy semiconducting excited electrons
left in dye
excites electrons TiO2, and are and “holes”
molecules
in dye molecules transported out creates a voltage
of cell
Sources:
http://nanosense.org/activities/cleanenergy/solarcellanimation.html
http://www.nanosense.org/activities/cleanenergy/solarenergy/CE_SolarSlides.ppt
http://www.azooptics.com/images/news/NewsImage_2835.jpg

7. Solar Cells Comparison
SILICON-BASED SOLAR CELLS DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS
• Higher efficiency • Lower efficiency
• Longer life • Shorter life
• Expensive • Relatively inexpensive
– Made in high vacuum at high heat – Made in non-vacuum setting
– High manufacturing costs mainly at room temperature
• Need TLC – Relatively simple manufacturing
process
– Fragile, rigid, thick
• Need little TLC
• Long return on investment
– Thin, lightweight, flexible
– Takes 4 years to produce energy
savings equivalent to cost of • Short return on investment
production – Takes approx 3 months to produce
energy savings equivalent to cost
of production
Sources:
http://www.nanosense.org/activities/cleanenergy/solarenergy/CE_SolarSlides.ppt
http://www.nano.fraunhofer.de/english/images/ise_z_module_small.jpg
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/solar-powered-backpack-2.jpg

8. Solar NANO Challenges
Organic and Hybrid Cells
Nanocrystalline TiO2 Film (DSSC)
Quantum Dot Solar Cells
Nanowire Solar Cells
Sources:
http://blog.cafefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/caltech-outdoor-carpet-solar-cell.bmp
http://blog.cafefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/U-of-Illinois-stamped-solar-cell1.bmp
http://www.briansager.com/images/Nanosolar_sm.jpg
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/45770668/Nano--Solar-cells-Solar-Cells-of-Nano-Solar-cells-Solar-Cells-of
http://www.rsc.org/images/imahori-375-FOR-TRIDION_tcm18-125827.jpg
http://www.ecf.utoronto.ca/~luzheng/images/research/organic_solar_cell.jpg
http://zoo.kaist.ac.kr/images/menu3/m3_img3_03.jpg

9. Solar Future?
The Sun is a singular Enormous gap between Interdisciplinary
solution to our future our tiny use of solar research is required:
energy needs: energy and its immense -
physics, chemistry, biology, mate
-capacity dwarfs fossil, nuclear, potential: rials, nanoscience
wind . . .
-incremental advances in today’s
-sunlight delivers more energy in
technology will not bridge the gap
one hour than the earth uses in
-conceptual breakthroughs are
one year
needed that come only from high
-free of greenhouse gases and
risk-high payoff basic research
pollutants
-secure from geo-political
constraints
„SOLAR ENERGY IS INTERDISCIPLINARY
NANOSCIENCE“
Sources:
http://cnst.rice.edu/uploadedFiles/Resources/Presentations/671%20ACC%20070807.pdf
http://www.solarpanels365.com/uploaded_images/how-much-do-solar-panels-cost-776558.jpg