A GaAs Ni radioisotope betavoltaic cell is reported over the temperature range 70 °C to −20 °C. The temperature effects on the key cell parameters were investigated. The saturation current decreased with decreased temperature; whilst the open circuit voltage, the short circuit current, the maximum power and the internal conversion efficiency values decreased with increased temperature. A maximu...

A GaAs 63Ni radioisotope betavoltaic cell is reported over the temperature range 70°C to -20°C. The temperature effects on the key cell parameters were investigated. The saturation current decreased with decreased temperature; whilst the open circuit voltage, the short circuit current, the maximum power and the internal conversion efficiency values decreased with increased temperature. A maximu...

Harvesting the energy from the sun through the bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells need materials with specific electronic characteristics. However, any promising material if cast improperly in cells will end into low or even null power conversion efficiency (PCE). Cell casting optimization is a time/material consumable step in any photovoltaic manufacturing practice. In this study, we sh...

We show that the performance of a streaming-potential based microfluidic energy conversion system can be strongly enhanced by the use of two phase flow. Injection of gas bubbles into a liquid-filled channel increases both the maximum output power and the energy conversion efficiency. In single-phase systems the internal conduction current induced by the streaming potential limits the output pow...

This paper studies the energy conversion efficiency for a rectified piezoelectric power harvester. An analytical model is proposed, and an expression of efficiency is derived under steady-state operation. In addition, the relationship among the conversion efficiency, electrically induced damping and ac–dc power output is established explicitly. It is shown that the optimization criteria are dif...

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Grid connected power conversion is an absolutely critical component of many established and developing industries, such as information technology, telecommunications, renewable power generation (e.g. photovoltaic and wind), even down to consumer electronics. There is an ever present demand to reduce the volume and cost, while increasing converter efficiency and performance. Reducing the losses ...

An effective way to improve polymer solar cell efficiency is to use a tandem structure, as a broader part of the spectrum of solar radiation is used and the thermalization loss of photon energy is minimized. In the past, the lack of high-performance low-bandgap polymers was the major limiting factor for achieving high-performance tandem solar cell. Here we report the development of a high-perfo...

In this research, n-dodecylthiol was added to P3HT/ PC70BM polymer solar cells to improve the crystallinity of P3HT and enhance the phase separation of P3HT/PC70BM. The improved crystallinity of P3HT:PC70BM doped with 0-5% by volume of ndodecylthiol resulted in improving the power conversion efficiency of polymer solar cells by 33%. In addition, thermal annealing of the P3HT/PC70MB/n-dodecylthi...

ont matter & 2012 0.1016/j.nanoen.2 thor. s: chldwang@mail .edu (G. Cao). Abstract A novel interface precipitation method has been developed to synthesize hierarchically structured ZnO nanocrystallite aggregates. Such synthesized ZnO nanocrystallite aggregates were demonstrated as a promising structure for high power conversion efficiency when used as photoelectrode in dye-sensitized solar cell...