Cleantech
A look at how nanotechnology benefits solar cells, water treatment, wind turbines and other clean energy applications
Lab talk
Nanotechnology research highlights: find out what the authors have to say
Boron nitride whiskers exhibit extremely high surface area
May 7, 2013
Porous material could store hydrogen or help to clean up wastewater
Improving the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells at larger cell sizes
Jan 25, 2013 1 comment
Using a metallic Ti foil layer instead of FTO conductive glass and replacing part of the TiO2 nanoparticle layer with a TiO2 nanotube layer in the anode benefits bigger devices.
Ions measure roughness of buried interfaces
Jan 10, 2013
Custom SIMS set-up characterizes functional multilayer structures grown using ALD.
Energy storage team designs carbon-encapsulated Fe3O4 nanocrystals
Dec 12, 2012
Simple glucose treatment could help to expand the electronic or electrochemical applications of metal oxides.
Li-ion batteries benefit from hierarchical LiFePO4/C
Nov 28, 2012
LiFePO4/C cathode offers excellent Li storage performance and high tap density.
CdTe coating improves photo-electron conversion efficiency of ZnO/CdS coaxial nanorods
Nov 7, 2012
Stepwise band structure of ZnO/CdS/CdTe photoelectrode helps to improve charge separation and extend electron diffusion length.
Hybrid nanomaterial enhances performance of thermoelectric generator
Oct 30, 2012
Asymmetric illumination scheme boosts current in prototype devices.
Imprinted nanovoids trap light in solar cells
Sep 25, 2012
Scalable and inexpensive technique suits organic thin-film devices.
1D magnetite nanostructures obtained without templates for energy applications
Sep 19, 2012
Fe3O4 nanobelts synthesized by a one-pot and template-free hydrothermal method using Na2CO3 and FeCl2 as reactants.
Flexible organic solar cells equipped with graphene electrodes
Sep 14, 2012
Reduced sheet resistance of chemically doped graphene film improves device performance.
Mild post-deposition treatments benefit colloidal nanocrystal solar cells
Aug 9, 2012
Use of dilute carboxylic acid solutions improves the photovoltaic response of tetrapod-shaped colloidal nanocrystal solids.
Sandia team demonstrates III-nitride nanowire array solar cells
Aug 7, 2012
Nanowire architecture could lead to higher efficiencies by overcoming strain limitations and guiding light via air voids.
Air-assisted fabrication paves the way for low-cost graphene solar cells
Jul 27, 2012
Easy-to-make graphene devices are ideal candidates for assorted infrared imaging applications.
Bent substrate enhances water splitting
Jul 4, 2012
ZnO nanorod arrays supported by a flexible polyethylene terephthalate substrate exhibit improved photoelectrochemical properties.
Nanowire coating benefits solar energy conversion
Jul 4, 2012
Metal oxide enabled silicon electrodes support efficient water solar splitting and hydrogen generation.
Feeling the heat of pyroelectricity
Jun 20, 2012
AFM operating in electrostatic force microscope mode reveals evolution of force gradients in gemstone placed on thermally cycled heating stage.
Study compares light trapping in hexagonal and square nano arrays
Jun 14, 2012
Array symmetry has little impact compared with other parameters such as periodicity, nanowire diameter and length
Highly flexible Ti-mesh upgrades DSSC electrodes
May 29, 2012
Dye-sensitized solar cells equipped with TiO2 nanotubes on Ti-mesh outperform foil-based designs in latest study
Quantum dot photonic nanocrystals increase conversion efficiency of solar cells
May 10, 2012
Self-organized growth and wet etching combined to create unique nanostructures for advanced management of photons and carriers
Aligned carbon nanotubes and non-aqueous electroytes ramp up performance of supercapacitors
May 4, 2012
Straight nanoconduits enable fast movement of ions to and from the electrode surface