Solar

Energy - Solar - About The Sector

Solar energy is an abundant resource that could satisfy human energy needs. According to the estimations, more solar energy reaches the Earth in an hour, than the energy consumed in a year. The conversion of solar energy to electricity requires less human interference; therefore, this renewable source has important advantages over other alternatives1. Nanotechnology is used to create solar cells and to apply these to convert solar energy into electrical energy. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been fabricated from several semiconductor nanoparticles such as CuO and TiO2. Fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene have been used to fabricate organic solar cells made of thin films (less than 100 nm). QD-based DSSCs have also been explored as they can enhance efficiency compared to traditional Si-based solar cells. Important types of semiconductor nanomaterials are CdS, Ag2S, CdSe, CdTe, CdHgTe, InAs, and Pb. 

 

 


Ling, J., Wali, Q., Al-Douri, Y., and Jose, R. (2022). Fundamentals of solar cells.  In Renewable Energy: Analysis, Resources, Applications, Management, and Policy. Edited by Y. Al-Douri. AIP Publishing, Melville, New York, pp. 5-1–5-26.