Non-toxic and scalable water-based flow batteries would be a good solution for storing renewable energy in urban areas — if it weren’t for their very low energy density. Empa researcher David Reber wants to remedy the situation with clever materials design. Two colored liquids bubbling through tubes: Is this what … [continued]
Researchers in Switzerland say making a low or zero carbon economy requires a lot of planning and effort by all interested parties. Energy storage will be key as will improvements to the energy efficiency of buildings.
A new perovskite solar cell combines tandem architecture, low cost materials and energy efficient, low cost thin film solar cell manufacturing.
Iron pyrite — aka fool’s gold — could offer a cheap and abundant energy storage solution if these research teams are on the right track.
Uniform antimony nanocrystals — capable of storing a great quantity of both lithium and sodium ions — have been created for the first time by researchers at ETH Zurich and Empa. Such uniform nanocrystals could be of great use in the creation of potential super-high-density batteries thanks to the previously … [continued]
The solar cell efficiency horse race is in full swing and it seems like every other week a new record-breaking announcement comes out, but let’s take a step back and consider how efficiency is just one element in the installed cost of solar power. Another key factor is the cost … [continued]
What a difference 34 years can make. When the Carter Administration installed solar panels at the White House back in 1979, photovoltaic cells were space age technology that most households could not afford, aside from the rare DIY-er. Now the price of solar power has been sinking like a stone, … [continued]
Solar records are broken left and right. We can’t cover them all, of course, but try to cover the big ones. Recently, researchers ar Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, set a pretty big one. They increased the solar cell efficiency record of flexible solar cells made of copper indium gallium (di)selenide (aka CIGS) from 17.6% to 18.7%, a pretty significant increase.
