New plastic can better convert solar energy

18 May 2005 News

Researchers at the University of Toronto have invented an infrared-sensitive material claimed to be about five times more efficient at turning the sun's power into electrical energy than current methods. Also, the plastic composite material could be sprayed onto other materials and used as portable electricity.

The discovery could lead to shirts and sweaters capable of recharging cellphones and other wireless devices, said Ted Sargent, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Toronto.

Minute particles called quantum dots, three to four nanometres across, are combined with a polymer to make a plastic that can detect energy in the infrared spectrum. Although not visible to the naked eye, infrared energy contains a huge untapped resource of energy. The plastic can be applied much like paint is applied to a wall and can convert up to 30% of the sun's power into usable, electrical energy, according to Sargent.

Today's best plastic solar cells convert only about 6%.

Further reading:

Mouser stocks wide product selection from Renesas companies
TRX Electronics News
The products on offer include embedded solutions, semiconductors, optoelectronics, sensors and passive components.

Read more...

---

TUKS campus taken over by robots!
News
Students are required to build autonomous robotic vehicles with a sensor system to detect specific colours on a multi-coloured track.

Read more...

---

Altron Arrow FAE earns STMicroelectronics award
News
Renaldo Fibiger was one of only two people from the whole of the EMEA region who scored 30 out of 31 in the certification course.

Read more...

---

Infineon to exhibit at Embedded World 2022
News
This Infineon will be showcasing various focus areas dealing with embedded systems and the internet of things.

Read more...

---

Avnet Abacus congratulates Bourns on 75 years of innovation
Avnet Abacus News
This year also marks a milestone with the 21st anniversary of the distribution alliance between these two companies.

Read more...

---

New product marketing manager for Yamaha’s SMT section
News
Yamaha appoints Kamil Stasiak, a 10-year veteran of the industry, as product marketing manager for its surface-mount technology section.

Read more...

---

Partnership between mLab and MICT SETA announced
News
The MOU between the two parties will seek to upskill South Africans, allowing them to keep up with a rapidly changing employment market.

Read more...

---

Infineon’s easy-to-use replacement for legacy barrel jacks
Altron Arrow News
It is estimated that over 10 billion power tools are still using the old barrel jacks for their power needs, which will need to change.

Read more...

---

Worldwide silicon wafer shipments edge higher to new record
News
SMG reports that worldwide silicon wafer shipments in the first quarter of 2022 surpassed the previous record high set in the third quarter of 2021.

Read more...

---

Arrow Electronics announces alliance with Senseye
Altron Arrow News
The agreement will see Arrow Electronics together with Senseye bringing to market AI-based predictive maintenance solutions for industrial sectors.

Read more...

---