CleanTechnica » black silicon solar cells http://cleantechnica.com Clean Tech News & Views: Solar Energy News. Wind Energy News. EV News. & More. Tue, 30 Dec 2014 18:48:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.1 Black Silicon Solar Cell Efficiency Record Broken http://cleantechnica.com/2013/04/05/black-silicon-solar-cell-efficiency-record-broken/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/04/05/black-silicon-solar-cell-efficiency-record-broken/#comments Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:57:48 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=50449 Researchers at Fraunhofer ISE of Germany and Aalto University of Finland have developed a black silicon solar cell that achieved 18.7% efficiency. This is the highest efficiency reported for a black silicon solar cell technology. 18.7% efficiency means a power-to-size ratio of 187 watts per square meter of these cells. 7,000 watts (7 kW) of these

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2013/04/05/black-silicon-solar-cell-efficiency-record-broken/feed/ 1 Black Silicon Can Lead To More Efficient Solar Cells, New Breakthrough Shows http://cleantechnica.com/2013/01/22/black-silicon-can-lead-to-more-efficient-solar-cells-new-breakthrough-shows/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/01/22/black-silicon-can-lead-to-more-efficient-solar-cells-new-breakthrough-shows/#comments Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:09:26 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=47339 A significant breakthrough has been made in the light absorption and surface passivation abilities of silicon nano-structures (such as black silicon) by researchers at Aalto University in Finland. The improvements were made by the application of an atomic layer coating, which works to improve light absorption and to make it more resistant to impurities (improved surface

Black Silicon Can Lead To More Efficient Solar Cells, New Breakthrough Shows was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2013/01/22/black-silicon-can-lead-to-more-efficient-solar-cells-new-breakthrough-shows/feed/ 0 Natcore-NREL Partnership Holds Promise of Low-Cost, High-Efficiency “Absolute Black” Solar Cells http://cleantechnica.com/2012/10/26/natcore-nrel-partnership-holds-promise-of-low-cost-high-efficiency-absolute-black-solar-cells/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/10/26/natcore-nrel-partnership-holds-promise-of-low-cost-high-efficiency-absolute-black-solar-cells/#comments Fri, 26 Oct 2012 12:57:46 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=44463 Finding ways to reduce the reflectivity of silicon PV cells to near zero and produce them cheaply enough in commercial quantities is a big challenge. Natcore, working in partnership with NREL, believes they're nearly there with their near-commercialization of black silicon solar cells.

Natcore-NREL Partnership Holds Promise of Low-Cost, High-Efficiency “Absolute Black” Solar Cells was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/10/26/natcore-nrel-partnership-holds-promise-of-low-cost-high-efficiency-absolute-black-solar-cells/feed/ 5 Black Silicon Solar Cell Hits 18.2% Efficiency, Should Help to Reduce Costs http://cleantechnica.com/2012/10/13/black-silicon-solar-cell-hits-18-2-efficiency-should-help-to-reduce-costs/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/10/13/black-silicon-solar-cell-hits-18-2-efficiency-should-help-to-reduce-costs/#comments Sat, 13 Oct 2012 14:30:58 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=43930 Black-silicon solar cells with 18.2% efficiency have been created by researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). These don’t need extra anti-reflection layers (like typical solar cells do), which should help to significantly lower the cost of solar energy. The specially designed nanostructured surface ensures that the light-generated electricity is

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/10/13/black-silicon-solar-cell-hits-18-2-efficiency-should-help-to-reduce-costs/feed/ 3 Black Silicon Solar Cells Get Boost in Efficiency, Efficiency Doubled http://cleantechnica.com/2012/10/11/black-silicon-solar-cells-get-boost-in-efficiency-efficiency-doubled/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/10/11/black-silicon-solar-cells-get-boost-in-efficiency-efficiency-doubled/#comments Thu, 11 Oct 2012 07:30:32 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=43834   While conventional solar cells can absorb a good portion of the Sun’s light, they completely miss the boat on getting anything from the infrared spectrum. But black silicon solar cells are actually designed exactly for this. A group of researchers from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft institute in Germany have recently succeeded in doubling solar cell efficiency of black silicon

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2012/10/11/black-silicon-solar-cells-get-boost-in-efficiency-efficiency-doubled/feed/ 12 Blackest Solar Cell to Date Absorbs 99.7% of Light http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/30/blackest-solar-cell-to-date-absorbs-99-7-of-light/ http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/30/blackest-solar-cell-to-date-absorbs-99-7-of-light/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:30:15 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=37539   Natcore Tech and National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) scientists have created the “blackest” solar cell to date, a black silicon solar cell that absorbs an incredible 99.7% of the light that hits its surface. “Today’s solar cells absorb about 95 percent of the sun’s radiation,” NREL notes. NREL actually holds the record for a

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