Flexible photovoltaics
October 25th, 2021
Graphene is being used in new flexible photovoltaic technologies. President Biden’s climate agenda includes support for solar energy. by Seshadri Ramkumar The climate change issue is front and center on today’s political stage. The massive budget bill proposed by President Biden includes a climate agenda, which has also thrown a spotlight on the subject. In […]
Researchers improve production of thin, efficient solar cells
December 14th, 2016
Researchers at the Air Force Research Laboratory are nearing thin, wearable electronics and other vital power applications. Photovoltaics, or solar cells, are a key component in next-generation power applications, but integrating them into Air Force systems has been difficult because the materials used to make the cells are typically thick, opaque, rigid and heavy. Attempts […]
Sustainable wearables
October 21st, 2016
Overcoming issues of energy and consumer engagement. Over the past decade, environmental issues have become a major concern for the textile, clothing, footwear and related industries. For wearable technology, the energy needed to operate devices and refinements in the technologies and fabrics has been in focus for decades. But now that significant development in these […]
Flexible solar’s sunny future
March 18th, 2016
Solar Cloth Company eyes growth with Base Structures merger. Flexible, fabric-based solar cells have intrigued the energy and advanced technical textiles industries for years. Smaller niche markets, cleverly deployed prototypes and high-fashion applications have used flexible photovoltaics (PV), often with success. Larger-scale solar fabric applications with true commercial viability … that has been more elusive. […]
Let there be (flexible) light!
March 4th, 2016
As efficiencies continue to improve, more applications are found for flexible photovoltaics For a long time, it was common knowledge that thin film and flexible photovoltaics (PV) were not practical because of their lower efficiencies compared with more traditional glass-encased PV. That is no longer the case. Today efficiencies are comparable (approaching or exceeding 20 […]
Presentation to illuminate perovskite photovoltaics
November 13th, 2015
The pros and cons of perovskite photovoltaics will be the subject of a presentation at the IDTechEx Show slated for Nov. 18-19 in Santa Clara, Calif. According to a press release from the tech research firm citing their report "The Rise of Perovskite Solar Cells 2015-2025," perovskite photovoltaics (PV) efficiency gains are double those of […]
February 2014
February 7th, 2014
Electronic textile cushion This short video shows an electronic textile cushion recently produced by Ioannis Anastasopoulos of the Advanced Textiles Research Group, Nottingham Trent University, U.K.. The LED chips and interconnects have been fully integrated into the fabric structure. “Power pocket” could do more than store your phone Scientists at the University of Southampton are […]