OLEDs fulfil their potential at last
Since their initial discovery in the 1950s, use of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) in digital displays has become commonplace, even so, they have struggled to live up to the hype....
Empowering sustainable energy with decentralisation
The energy system is undergoing unprecedented transformation, fuelled by factors such as technological developments, geopolitical shifts and environmental concerns. According to the World Economic Forum, decentralisation is one of the...
The use of organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells in skyscrapers
The skylines of big cities like New York, London and so many others in the world have been shaped by skyscrapers. Despite their aesthetical beauty, these high-rise buildings typically draw...
Challenging the solar debate
“It is difference of opinion that makes horse races,” said Mark Twain. But what’s the leading opinion on whether photovoltaic (PV) solar panels are really the ecological and economical solution...
Organic light-emitting diodes demonstrate high luminosity at lower voltages
A team of researchers from organic photovoltaic cell development company NextGen Nano has discovered a means of producing organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) that demonstrate high luminosity at lower voltages. The...
Blue OLED chemistry emits efficiently below bandgap voltage
Leveraging specially-crafted organic molecules with a large singlet-triplet splitting, researchers from North Carolina State University demonstrated blue OLED chemistries capable of forming triplet excitons via direct charge injection. Through subsequent...
Could ultra-thin solar cells be the answer to supporting the electricity grid as the electric vehicle market grows?
Twenty-five years after the first practical electric car was developed, the electric vehicle (EV) market is booming. January 2019 saw the number of EVs sold in the UK increase 110%...
Material challenges in renewable energy
New research claims that, in the race against climate change, the renewable energy industry must embrace the circular economy. Failure to do so will result in a shortage of the...
What are organic solar cells?
There is a third generation of solar cells made from organometallic compounds. While projects are still largely in the development phases, there has been a lot of investment recently into...
How your next electric vehicle could soon be made from flexible solar panels.
A new technological breakthrough could change the way we power electric cars. New polymer-based flexible solar panels could eventually cover the outside of your vehicle, allowing it to charge as...
Cutting the cord on electric vehicles
A new technological breakthrough could change the way we power electric cars. New polymer-based flexible solar panels could eventually cover the outside of your vehicle, allowing it to charge as...
Has the sun set on second-gen solar?
In October 2018, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its report, Global Warming of 1.5ºC. The landmark report highlighted the need for businesses and governments to...
Learning from nature: the increasing efficiency of organic solar cells
Researchers from universities around the world are attempting to improve the efficiency of solar cells using organic materials. Scientists in China and the UK have developed carbon- and plastic-manufactured polymer...
Amazon’s waste management and solar energy commitment - the start of a sustainability journey?
This week, Amazon announced new recycling and green energy initiatives across the US and UK, including an investment into the Closed Loop Fund and a solar energy project. The tech...
Biogenic solar cells: working in dim conditions
Almost 8,000km from Beijing, Canadian researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have designed ‘biogenic’ solar cells – using E.coli bacteria to transfer light to energy – which are...
The flexibility of polymer solar cells
Across the world, chemical and bio-engineering scientists are developing innovative ways to produce organic solar cells with increased efficiency. In China, researchers from Nankai University and the South China University...