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August 22, 2007

Nanoparticles Boost Solar Cell Efficiency by 60%

Vancouver, British Columbia [RenewableEnergyAccess.com]

Octillion Corp. has announced that a published research study has demonstrated that the same silicon nanoparticles used in development of the company's first-of-its-kind transparent glass window capable of generating electricity, are able to drastically increase the power performance of conventional silicon solar cells.

"The exceptional power performance of these silicon nanoparticles is a substantial achievement and is especially significant since our use of these same nanoparticles is key to the development of Octillion's transparent glass windows capable of generating electricity."

-- Harmel S. Rayat, President and CEO, Octillion Corp.

In experiments where silicon nanoparticles were applied on top of solar cells, researchers observed large voltage enhancements with dramatic increases in power ranging from as much as 60-70% in the ultraviolet-blue (UV) range, and further reported a significant boost in power by as much as 10% in the visible light range.

“The exceptional power performance of these silicon nanoparticles is a substantial achievement and is especially significant since our use of these same nanoparticles is key to the development of Octillion’s transparent glass windows capable of generating electricity, an innovation that I believe can potentially reduce the harmful environmental impact associated with traditional electrical power generation,” explained Harmel S. Rayat, President and CEO of Octillion Corp.

In the experiments, researchers integrated ultra thin films of silicon nanoparticles of 1nm and 3nm in diameter directly onto conventional polycrystalline solar cells, forming a transparent layer of silicon nanoparticles.

Researchers published their breakthrough findings in the August 6, 2007 edition of the American Institute of Physics’ Applied Physics Letters.
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Reader Comments (5)
 
No image available
August 24, 2007
$/W?
Comment 1 of 5
No image available
August 24, 2007
Put them everywhere.
Comment 2 of 5
No image available
August 24, 2007
Put these in electric cars.
Comment 3 of 5
No image available
August 26, 2007

 

 

If this is now beyond the experimental stage, I would hope the developers of Liberty Tower (under construction at the World Trade Center site) would have the imagination to integrate this technology on the fly.  Talk about making a statement.


Comment 4 of 5
No image available
August 27, 2007

I don't know how much this product costs, but semi-transparent solar PV modules have been on the market for some time.  Advantages are 1.  Reliable electricity production for 25+ years, 2. Reduction in material costs (i.e. windows), 3. Almost total elimination of UV ray penetration into the building, 4. Due to low Solar Heat Gain Factor, reduction of air conditioning costs by 40-60%.  See info on Photovol, made by Japan's MSK (now owned by Suntech Power Holdings), on page 2 of this link:

http://www.matrixenergy.ca//produits/Catalogue/2007/Solar%20Modules.pdf


Comment 5 of 5
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