• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Electrical Engineering News and Products

Electronics Engineering Resources, Articles, Forums, Tear Down Videos and Technical Electronics How-To's

  • Products / Components
    • Analog ICs
    • Battery Power
    • Connectors
    • Microcontrollers
    • Power Electronics
    • Sensors
    • Test and Measurement
    • Wire / Cable
  • Applications
    • 5G
    • Automotive/Transportation
    • EV Engineering
    • Industrial
    • IoT
    • Medical
    • Telecommunications
    • Wearables
    • Wireless
  • Learn
    • eBooks / Handbooks
    • EE Training Days
    • Tutorials
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars & Digital Events
  • Resources
    • White Papers
    • Design Guide Library
    • Digital Issues
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • LEAP Awards
    • Podcasts
    • DesignFast
  • Videos
    • EE Videos and Interviews
    • Teardown Videos
  • EE Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online.com
  • Bill’s Blogs
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Molecular Nanoparticles Lead To Major Advancement In The Development Of Solar Cells

August 1, 2017 By Phys.org

A new study by researchers at the University of St Andrews could herald a major advancement in the development of solar cells.

The efficient use of solar energy for electricity generation is considered vital to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, a cause of global warming.

The St Andrews research, led by Professor John Irvine, has demonstrated that the atomically precise nanoparticles known as nanoclusters or molecular nanoparticles are capable of cutting a high-energy photon into two lower-energy ones, which could benefit the development of the third-generation photovoltaics, the direct conversion of light into electricity at the atomic level.

The findings are published today (1 August 2017) in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

The efficiency of an ideal single junction solar cell is limited to 30 per cent to balance the light absorption and the energy of the excited electro-hole pairs. The cutting of a high-energy photon into two photons of nearly half energy could offer the prospect of exceeding the efficiency limit as it will increase the number of charge carriers and efficient use of high-energy light rays in the solar spectrum.

The generation of two low-energy photons from a high-energy one has been observed in quantum dots and lanthanide ions due to the confinement of excitons and the transport of charge carriers from neighbouring ones.

Now the St Andrews-led team has demonstrated the nanoclusters in organic-inorganic hybrid bismuth halide can also be used for the splitting of a high-energy photon with the nanoclusters and this could bring advances in solar cells as they are arranged in a bulk crystalline material that can be processed from solution.

Professor Irvine said: “It is expected that this study would stimulate the study on materials with nanoclusters or low-dimensional organic-inorganic hybrid materials for photonic devices and this atomic precise subunit in crystalline materials could ease the preparation and processing of nano-sized particles as they are controlled by the intrinsic crystal structure of the material.”

You Might Also Like

Filed Under: Power Electronic Tips

Primary Sidebar

EE Engineering Training Days

engineering

Featured Contributions

Five challenges for developing next-generation ADAS and autonomous vehicles

Robust design for Variable Frequency Drives and starters

Meeting demand for hidden wearables via Schottky rectifiers

GaN reliability milestones break through the silicon ceiling

From extreme to mainstream: how industrial connectors are evolving to meet today’s harsh demands

More Featured Contributions

EE Tech Toolbox

“ee
Tech Toolbox: 5G Technology
This Tech Toolbox covers the basics of 5G technology plus a story about how engineers designed and built a prototype DSL router mostly from old cellphone parts. Download this first 5G/wired/wireless communications Tech Toolbox to learn more!

EE Learning Center

EE Learning Center
“ee
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for EE professionals.
“bills
contribute

R&D World Podcasts

R&D 100 Episode 10
See More >

Sponsored Content

Advanced Embedded Systems Debug with Jitter and Real-Time Eye Analysis

Connectors Enabling the Evolution of AR/VR/MR Devices

Award-Winning Thermal Management for 5G Designs

Making Rugged and Reliable Connections

Omron’s systematic approach to a better PCB connector

Looking for an Excellent Resource on RF & Microwave Power Measurements? Read This eBook

More Sponsored Content >>

RSS Current EDABoard.com discussions

  • 21V keeps getting shorted to my UART line.
  • Discrete IrDA receiver circuit
  • Getting different output for op amp circuit
  • Testing 5kW Grid Tied inverter over 200-253VAC
  • problem connecting to my xilinx device VIA global IP

RSS Current Electro-Tech-Online.com Discussions

  • Wideband matching an electrically short bowtie antenna; 50 ohm, 434 MHz
  • Relay buzzing after transformer change?
  • PIC KIT 3 not able to program dsPIC
  • Back to the old BASIC days
  • using a RTC in SF basic
Search Millions of Parts from Thousands of Suppliers.

Search Now!
design fast globle

Footer

EE World Online

EE WORLD ONLINE NETWORK

  • 5G Technology World
  • Analog IC Tips
  • Battery Power Tips
  • Connector Tips
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • Engineer's Garage
  • EV Engineering
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips

EE WORLD ONLINE

  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Teardown Videos
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
  • About Us

Copyright © 2025 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Privacy Policy