Carbon nanotubes are extremely effective as a means to detect potentially dangerous gases that may be present in the air. The previous methods used to make these carbon nanotube sensors have typically involved hazardous materials, though, and none of them could really be scaled up to a production level. … [continued]
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 … [continued]
According to the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, an energy storage system that cools air until it becomes liquid could compete with batteries. The liquid is then stored inside a vacuum flask to keep it in a cold, liquid state until it is needed. Air is a mixture of multiple gases, … [continued]
By controlling how the ‘mixing’ occurs between acceptor and donor layers (solar cell domains) in polymer-based solar cells, efficiency could be greatly boosted, says new research from a team that includes physicists from North Carolina State University. This new research has given some insight into the most inner workings … [continued]
A method to measure the photocurrents of a ‘single functionalized photosynthetic protein system’ has now been developed by researchers. The researchers are confident that they can show that such a system could be integrated and “selectively addressed” inside of an artificial photovoltaic device’s architecture while still being able to … [continued]
A new solar photovoltaic conversion efficiency record for solar cells made of amorphous and monocrystalline silicon of 21.4% was recently set, thanks to the innovations of researchers at EPFL’s Institute of Microengineering in Neuchatel. The research team, led by professor Christophe Ballif, director of the Photovoltaics Laboratory (PVlab), recently … [continued]
Some more top cleantech news from around the interwebs! Clean Cars 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive Makes Official, Expensive Debut. “One of the most exciting cars in the electric vehicle world has been the Mercedes SLS AMG E-Cell concept. Well, the official version will be called the Mercedes-Benz SLS … [continued]
How many posts will you see decrying the minimum sea ice extent of the Arctic Sea this year? My best bet is approximately 36, give or take three on either side. For CleanTechnica’s part, this should be our last, as the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) … [continued]
The Kyocera Corporation announced last week their participation in a state-of-the-art, international smart-grid demonstration project which aims to assist with the wider implementation of renewable energy and the promotion of energy conservation through the use of smart-grid-related technologies. In conjunction with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of … [continued]
A new study finds nearly half of federal candidates disagree with the 99.5 percent of professors publishing climate change research at their alma maters, who agree that climate change is real and human-caused. […]
