U of A (University of Alberta) and NINT researchers make solar energy breakthrough

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.expressnews.ualberta.ca/article.cfm?id=9998

U of A and NINT researchers make solar energy breakthrough

by Brian Murphy

February 25, 2009 - Edmonton-The University of Alberta and the National Research Council's National Institute for Nanotechnology have engineered an approach that is leading to improved performance of plastic solar cells (hybrid organic solar cells).

The development of inexpensive, mass-produced plastic solar panels is a goal of intense interest for many of the world's scientists and engineers because of the high cost and shortage of the ultra-high purity silicon and other materials normally required.

Plastic solar cells are made up of layers of different materials, each with a specific function, called a sandwich structure. Jillian Buriak, a professor of chemistry at the U of A, NINT principal investigator and member of the research team, uses a simple analogy to describe the approach:

"Consider a clubhouse sandwich, with many different layers. One layer absorbs the light, another helps to generate the electricity, and others help to draw the electricity out of the device. Normally, the layers don't stick well, and so the electricity ends up stuck and never gets out, leading to inefficient devices. We are working on the mayonnaise, the mustard, the butter and other 'special sauces' that bring the sandwich together, and make each of the layers work together. That makes a better sandwich, and makes a better solar cell, in our case."

After two years of research, these U of A and NINT scientists have, by only working on one part of the sandwich, seen improvements of about 30 per cent in the efficiency of the working model.

Michael Brett, professor of electrical and computer engineering, NINT principal investigator and member of the research team is optimistic: "our team is so incredibly cross-disciplinary, with people from engineering, physics and chemistry backgrounds all working towards this common goal of cheap manufacturable solar cells. This collaboration is extremely productive because of the great team with such diverse backgrounds, there is still so much more for us to do, which is exciting."

The team estimates it will be five to seven years before plastic solar panels will be mass produced but Buriak adds that when it happens solar energy will be available to everyone. She says the next generation of solar technology belongs to plastic.

"Plastic solar cell material will be made cheaply and quickly and in massive quantities by ink jet-like printers."

[msongs]

1. plastic is made from......ta da....petroleum nt

[mrbscott19]

2. yes but

that solar cell will produce far more power in its life span than what was used to make it. Thats a net gain.

Would you be in favor of using all of the worlds oil suppply to make the solar cells if you never had to use oil again afterwards? I would. It's a small price to pay for clean and free energy.

[OKIsItJustMe]

3. Not all plastics are made from petroleum

(See "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#History.2Ftypes_of_plastics">History/types of plastics.")

Besides, what's your point? It's not as if they're going to use it at the same rate as we do by burning the stuff.

[predfan]

4. That's exactly why we have to develop the mindset that petroleum is

way too valuable to burn up in gasoline, especially when we have alternatives.

EVERYTHING we need is out there, we just need the leadership we've been sadly lacking while Big Oil encouraged us to burn every drop, then figure out something else.

Thank God for the 2008 elections.

[OKIsItJustMe]

6. Chemists say CDs, eyeglass lenses could help stem global warming

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/04/08/global-warming-cds.html?ref=rss

Chemists say CDs, eyeglass lenses could help stem global warming

Last Updated: Tuesday, April 8, 2008 | 3:16 PM ET
CBC News

Compact discs, beverage bottles and other products made from hard, clear plastics may have a role to play in slowing global warming, chemists said Tuesday.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans, chemists Thomas E. Muller and Toshiyasu Sakakura separately presented ways to manufacture polycarbonate plastics from waste carbon dioxide.

Carbon dioxide is produced during the combustion of fossil fuels and generally released into the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect that warms the Earth.

Muller, a professor at the Institute for Technical Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry at RWTH Aachen University in Germany, said the millions of tonnes of plastic used each year for products such as eyeglass lenses and discs present "intriguing sinks" for waste CO2.

…

[customerserviceguy]

5. I wonder if the process is cleaner?

I used to work in semiconductor manufacturing, and it is a dirty process. Hopefully this process is more ecologically friendly.