A couple of solar breaktroughs

From KurzweilAI.net — MIT students create a low-cost, low-tech solar dish, and carbon nanotubes may lower the cost and improve the performance of solar cells.

MIT team plays with fire to create cheap energy

Christian Science Monitor, June 18, 2008 A simple new low-cost solar dish developed by MIT students produces steam heat for less than the cost of heat from oil or natural gas, according to the MIT team. The steam heat can be used cost effectively for manufacturing, food pasteurization, and heating buildings.   Read Original Article>>

 

Perfecting a solar cell by adding imperfections

PhysOrg.com, June 16, 2008 New research at Santa Fe Institute, Michigan State University, and Columbia University shows that a film of carbon nanotubes may be able to replace two of the layers normally used in a solar cell, with improved performance at lower cost. Exposing the carbon nanotubes to ozone made the carbon nanotubes better catalysts, with more than a ten-fold improvement, and replaced expensive platinum. And making them longer improved both conductivity and transparency. The carbonnanotube films might also be used in fuel cells and batteries.   Read Original Article>>