Solar Energy and

Nanotechnology
Tyler Weitzman

Solar Panels
Whats not working now that could
be better:
Cost of installation
Actual Solar Panel Efficiency
Cost of panel

Installation: Why so
expensive?

Can you imagine?

How do Solar Panels work?

How do Solar Panels work?

How do Solar Panels work?

Theoretical limit of 34% (SingleJunction)

Multi-junction (Theoretically 86.8%)

Quantom Dots?

Quantom Dots
Nanocrystals of Semiconductor
material
Can be made easily with solvent
reaction
Size can be easily controlled
NP Junction applies
Light in different colors is simply due to
different band gaps

Application to Solar Panel

Range of band gaps to use more of
the suns spectrum of light energy
Microcrystalline Silicon: Acts
physically like Amorphous Silicon (aSi) with a more standard conversion
efficiency. Single-junction can be
easily placed on a flexible nanofilm

Placement

Placing on film uses process called

spin coating
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l
_UCkLsoL7M
Used in photolithography to place
photoresist

Placing gradient of sizes on multiple

films requires other currently
expensive technology.
Gradient
Multilayer
Nanofilm

More Options
Upconversion nanoparticles
(Lanthanide ions)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7
gfC_2jQRCg
Could work in conjunction with multijunction

Other Uses for Energy

Upconversion -> Efficient light bulbs
LED diodes (also NP) opposite of solar cell
electroluminescence characteristics, internal
quantum efficiency, external quantum efficiency, light
extraction, differ in nano and become more efficient

Batteries, (1) liquid separation longer life (2)

electrode conductivity by nanoparticle coating
faster recharging
Internal combustion engine: Surface-area
maximization of catalysts -> improved efficiency

Sources
http://www.understandingnano.com/solarcells.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_applications_of_nanotechnology
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Internal_comb
ustion_engine_pistons_of_partial_cross-sectional_view.jpg
https://utilities.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/energysaving.jpg
http://media.mnn.com/sites/default/files/main_coldwar_0422.jpg
http://www.technologyreview.com/sites/default/files/images/tesla.3x
519.jpg
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/apr/28/solar-panelinstallations-surge-uk
http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/7486/20140609/newnano-particle-makes-solar-cells-cheaper.htm
http://www.nature.com/nmat/journal/v13/n8/abs/nmat4007.html#c
ompounds

Sources
http://www.extremetech.com/wpcontent/uploads/2012/12/quantum_dots_c.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/PVeff
%28rev150319%29.jpg
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S174801321200
1223
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/solarcell3.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%E2%80%93n_junction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNuoYm7Su4o
http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2014/ra/c4ra03919j
#!divAbstract
http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/journal/apl/103/23/10.1063/1.
4844715

Questions?