Graphene and carbon quantum dots have extraordinary optical and electrical features because of their quantum confinement properties. This makes them attractive materials for applications in photovoltaic devices (PV). Their versatility has led to their being used as light harvesting materials or selective contacts, either for holes or electrons, in silicon quantum dot, polymer or dye-sensitized ...

Solar energy conversion into electricity by photovoltaic modules is now a mature technology. We discuss the need for materials and device developments using conventional silicon and other materials, pointing to the need to use scalable materials and to reduce the energy payback time. Storage of solar energy can be achieved using the energy of light to produce a fuel. We discuss how this can be ...

The chemical compositions and structures of organic-inorganic interfaces in mesostructurally ordered conjugated polymer-titania nanocomposites are shown to have a predominant influence on their photovoltaic properties. Such interfaces can be controlled by using surfactant structure-directing agents (SDAs) with different architectures and molecular weights to promote contact between the highly h...

In all oxide compounds, oxygen vacancies intrinsically exist and their role and impact on materials’ properties have been studied for several decades. Mostly they have been considered as defects that disturb a ‘perfect world’. Nowadays, however, researchers consider them as new parameters for controlling functionalities of oxide compounds such as quantum and energy materials; here, the multifer...

This study is concerned with the results of a Life Cycle Assessment comparison between photovoltaic e silicon based modules and thin film modules e and solar thermal systems, as technologies which are usually installed for partially covering household energy demand. Several studies focused on energy and environmental performances of photovoltaic and solar thermal collectors, however they have b...

Hybrid AMX3 perovskites (A = Cs, CH3NH3; M = Sn, Pb; X = halide) have revolutionized the scenario of emerging photovoltaic technologies, with very recent results demonstrating 15% efficient solar cells. The CH3NH3PbI3/MAPb(I(1-x)Cl(x))3 perovskites have dominated the field, while the similar CH3NH3SnI3 has not been exploited for photovoltaic applications. Replacement of Pb by Sn would facilitat...

Solution-processable photovoltaic devices (PVs), such as perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (sDSCs) show great potential to replace the conventional silicon-based solar cells for achieving low-cost and large-area solar electrical energy generation in the near future, due to their easy manufacture and high efficiency. Organic hole transport materials (HTMs) ...

2D layered transition metal dichalcogenides (LTMDs) attracted a great deal of interests because of their attractive electronic, optoelectronic and mechanical properties, versatile chemistry, and large natural abundance. Especially, a single semiconducting LTMD (e.g., WSe 2 , WS 2 , and MoS 2) layer (~0.5 nm thick) can absorb as much sunlight as 50 nm of Si (or 12 nm of GaAs) and generate curren...

As worldwide demand for fossil fuels depletes reserves, scientists are increasingly focused on generating alternative energy— especially if it can be produced cleanly and inexpensively. Hydroelectric, solar, wind, nuclear, and biomass technologies are replacing coal, oil, and natural gas. Many of these new technologies have similar costs. Yet the availability of materials or existing infrastruc...