Solar Energy

Ultra-fast electron measurement provides important findings for the solar industry

Published

3 years ago

March 3, 2021

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Ultra-fast electron measurement provides important findings for the solar industry

The key are the ultra-fast flashes of light, with which the team led by Dr. Friedrich Roth works at FLASH in Hamburg, the world’s first free-electron laser in the X-ray region. “We took advantage of the special properties of this X-ray source and expanded them with time-resolved X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (TR-XPS). This method is based on the external photoelectric effect, for the explanation of which Albert Einstein received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.

“”For the first time, we were able to directly analyze the specific charge separation and subsequent processes when light hits a model system such as an organic solar cell. We were also able to determine the efficiency of the charge separation in real-time,” explains Dr. Roth from the Institute of Experimental Physics at TU Bergakademie Freiberg.

With photon science to better solar cells

In contrast to previous methods, the researchers were able to identify a previously unobserved channel for charge separation. “With our measurement method, we can carry out a time-resolved, atom-specific analysis. This gives us a fingerprint that can be assigned to the associated molecule. We can see when the electrons energized by the optical laser arrive at the acceptor molecule, how long they stay and when or how they disappear again,” says Prof. Serguei Molodtsov, explaining the measurement method.

He heads the research group “Structural Research with X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFELs) and Synchrotron Radiation” at the Freiberg Institute of Experimental Physics and is a Scientific Director at the European X-ray Free Electron Laser (EuXFEL).

Analyze weak points and increase quantum efficiency

Real-time analysis and the measurement of internal parameters are important aspects of basic research that the solar industry, in particular, can benefit from. “With our measurements, we draw important conclusions about the interfaces at which free charge carriers are formed or lost and thus weaken the performance of solar cells,” adds Dr. Roth.

With the findings of the Freiberg researchers, for example, optimization possibilities at the molecular level or in the field of materials science can be derived and quantum efficiency optimize newly emerging photovoltaic and photocatalytic systems. The quantum efficiency describes the ratio of the incident light to the photon stream (current that is generated). The team published the results in a current specialist publication, the journal Nature Communications.

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Solar Energy

Momentus and Ascent Solar Technologies announce new solar array partnership

Published

11 hours ago

April 18, 2024

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Momentus and Ascent Solar Technologies announce new solar array partnership

by Staff Writers

Momentus

by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 18, 2024
Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) and Ascent Solar Technologies (Nasdaq: ASTI) has unveiled their partnership aimed at jointly marketing innovative solar arrays that integrate Momentus’s low-cost Tape Spring Solar Array (TASSA) technology and Ascent’s advanced, flexible photovoltaic modules.

The surge in satellite production and deployment underscores a critical demand for affordable and efficient solar arrays. This collaboration will deliver a solar solution offering significant benefits including cost-effectiveness, durability under extreme space conditions, and high power output capabilities.

Following the successful initial demonstration of TASSA in orbit, launched via the Vigoride-6 mission, Momentus is enhancing the system with Ascent’s newer, more efficient Titan Module solar blankets. These upgrades aim to optimize power generation while reducing costs, with TASSA designed to support high-volume satellite operations by accommodating multiple units within standard launch payload configurations.

Rob Schwarz, CTO of Momentus, noted, “TASSA aims to empower small satellites with substantial power capabilities without compromising on mass, thermal management, or budget. This innovation not only maximizes space utilization within launch vehicles but also expedites satellite constellation deployment.”

The system’s adaptability includes retractable features to minimize exposure to space debris and adverse weather, potentially extending mission lifespans and operational reliability.

Paul Warley, CEO of ASTI, highlighted the suitability of their photovoltaic technology for space applications, emphasizing its durability and lightweight attributes which are critical in harsh orbital environments. “Our technology is designed to deliver sustained power output over time with significantly reduced mass, which is fundamental for successful long-term missions,” said Warley.

This partnership is set to streamline satellite array systems, making prolonged, cost-efficient space missions feasible.

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Solar Energy

Quantum material achieves up to 190% efficiency in solar cells

Published

12 hours ago

April 18, 2024

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Quantum material achieves up to 190% efficiency in solar cells

by Clarence Oxford

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 17, 2024

Researchers from Lehigh University have developed a material that significantly enhances the efficiency of solar panels.

A prototype incorporating this material as the active layer in a solar cell displays an average photovoltaic absorption rate of 80%, a high rate of photoexcited carrier generation, and an external quantum efficiency (EQE) reaching up to 190%. This figure surpasses the theoretical Shockley-Queisser efficiency limit for silicon-based materials, advancing the field of quantum materials for photovoltaics.

This work signifies a major advance in sustainable energy solutions, according to Chinedu Ekuma, professor of physics at Lehigh. He and Lehigh doctoral student Srihari Kastuar recently published their findings in the journal Science Advances. Ekuma highlighted the innovative approaches that could soon redefine solar energy efficiency and accessibility.

The material’s significant efficiency improvement is largely due to its unique intermediate band states, which are energy levels within the material’s electronic structure that are ideally positioned for solar energy conversion.

These states have energy levels in the optimal subband gaps-energy ranges capable of efficiently absorbing sunlight and producing charge carriers-between 0.78 and 1.26 electron volts.

Moreover, the material excels in absorbing high levels in the infrared and visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

In traditional solar cells, the maximum EQE is 100%, which corresponds to the generation and collection of one electron for each photon absorbed. However, newer materials and configurations can generate and collect more than one electron per high-energy photon, achieving an EQE over 100%.

Multiple Exciton Generation (MEG) materials, though not yet widely commercialized, show immense potential for enhancing solar power system efficiency. The Lehigh-developed material utilizes intermediate band states to capture photon energy typically lost in traditional cells, including energy lost through reflection and heat production.

The research team created this novel material using van der Waals gaps, atomically small spaces between layered two-dimensional materials, to confine molecules or ions. Specifically, they inserted zerovalent copper atoms between layers of germanium selenide (GeSe) and tin sulfide (SnS).

Ekuma developed the prototype based on extensive computer modeling that indicated the system’s theoretical potential. Its rapid response and enhanced efficiency strongly indicate the potential of Cu-intercalated GeSe/SnS as a quantum material for advanced photovoltaic applications, offering a path for efficiency improvements in solar energy conversion, he stated.

While the integration of this quantum material into existing solar energy systems requires further research, the techniques used to create these materials are already highly advanced, with scientists mastering precise methods for inserting atoms, ions, and molecules.

Research Report:Chemically Tuned Intermediate Band States in Atomically Thin CuxGeSe/SnS Quantum Material for Photovoltaic Applications

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Solar Energy

Project receives funding for advanced solar-thermal research

Published

7 days ago

April 12, 2024

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Project receives funding for advanced solar-thermal research

by Sophie Jenkins

London, UK (SPX) Apr 12, 2024

The University of Surrey, leading a collaboration with the University of Bristol and Northumbria University, has received a GBP 1.1 million grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to develop solar-thermal devices. These devices aim to revolutionize the way we heat homes and generate power, differing from traditional solar cells by converting sunlight into heat for energy production.

The research focuses on creating surfaces that selectively absorb sunlight and emit heat through near-infrared radiation. This project leverages the combined expertise of the institutions in photonics, advanced materials, applied electromagnetics, and nanofabrication to address a global need for efficient solar energy utilization.

Professor Marian Florescu, Principal Investigator from Surrey, highlighted the importance of the project: “The sun provides an immense amount of energy daily, much more than we currently harness. By advancing these solar-absorbing surfaces, we aim to transform solar energy use into a sustainable powerhouse for our increasing energy needs.”

Goals of the project include developing high-temperature solar absorbers, enhancing the efficiency of solar-absorbing structures, and improving the management of heat generated from sunlight. Prototypes will be constructed to demonstrate these technologies.

Professor Marin Cryan, Co-Principal Investigator from the University of Bristol, explained their focus on thermionic solar cell technology, which uses concentrated sunlight to initiate electron emission for high-efficiency solar cells.

Dr. Daniel Ho, Co-Principal Investigator from Northumbria University, added: “Our university leads in thermophotovoltaic research, utilizing advanced thermal analysis techniques. We’re excited to contribute to groundbreaking developments in renewable energy.”

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