Nano scientists going green
Jennifer Foreshew
JANUARY 17, 2006
AUSTRALIAN scientists are using nanotechnology to develop portable personal solar cells that can recharge laptops and mobile phones.
Nanotech: Nunzio Motta and Erik Waclawik say their research may be a viable alternative to expensive, heavy and delicate silicon solar cells
The Queensland University of Technology's renewable energy source project, which has been under way for two years, coincides with similar research at other Australian universities.
Nano scientists at the university are using a flexible polymer sheet that can be rolled up and taken anywhere to charge communications devices.
The technology is 100 nanometres (a nanometre is a billionth of a metre) thick, weighs just 10 micrograms per square centimetre and uses a cheap composite material made from carbon nanotubes one-tenth the thickness of a human hair, and conductive polymer.
The device is being developed by Professor Nunzio Motta, of the university's school of engineering systems, and Eric Waclawik, of the school of physical and chemical sciences.
The low-cost, alternative photovoltaic device is being explored by the Applied Nanotechnology Group under a university strategic collaborative grant.
"We have been trying to increase photovoltaic efficiencies out of these materials by embedding carbon nanotubes in the conductive polymer," Mr Waclawik said.
Additional power can be generated by linking polymer tiles in a patchwork that increases the size of the device according to a user's needs.
"You could have a tent that has this flexible conductive polymer as part of its fabric," he said.
"It could be passively absorbing light and converting that light to electricity."
Mr Waclawik said the polymer may also be a viable alternative to expensive, heavy and delicate silicon solar cells.
"You could imagine a mobile phone, for instance, where the back of the case might be made of a photovoltaic plastic, so you could be charging the battery just by sitting out in the sun," he said.
Between $200,000 and $300,000 had been spent on the project, which was probably several years away from commercialisation, Mr Waclawik said.
"If it can boost the efficiency, the cost of generating the electricity starts to be competitive with other forms," he said.
Further development was needed on the nano-structured material to get higher conductivity, he said.
"The other goal is to try to capture as much sunlight as possible in a broad wavelength range," Mr Waclawik said.
The Australian
australianit.news.com.au
I think that Nanergy is way ahead of these guys!
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