Tetrapod nanocrystals could improve solar cells

Advanced Technologies ^ | June 9, 2003 (3:04 p.m. ET) | R. Colin Johnson EE Times

[biblewonk]

Wind power is just more cost effective. You get way more kwhr per dollar.

[DannyTN]

But you still have to buy gas to run the generator. And a generator is a pain to keep fueled.

A better comparision might be to monthly utility bills. Mine run about $200. Some months less but can surge to $400 in winter. So let's say $2400/year. And my bills are cheap because the energy comes from TVA Dam's.

$2400 at 9% could support interest on a purchase of $26,666. So depending on the life of the cell and associated equipment, would you pay $2400 a year to be independent from the grid and not have the annual increases. Yeah, I probably would. If the price gets cut in half so that I'm paying $1200, then that's wonderful.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Well, in California, they mey be cost efficient simply because at least you have a guaranteed source of energy...

[bert]

Here are Tetrapods....

[Calvin Locke]

And a generator is a pain to keep fueled.

I was reading a while back that those "Coleman" type generators have a "life expectancy" of about 500 hours before needing a serious overhaul. Can't remember cost per kwh.

"Bigger is better" seems to be the rule in generators. And I think that the low end ones also really only have half the
rated power available due to the nature of the design.

[Centurion2000]

bump

[wbill]

This is good. The longest journey begins with one step.

However, the only truly efficient solar-powered appliance is the clothesline that I have behind my house.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

ping!

[Chemist_Geek]

But ultimately, it's a matter of money. For solar to be viable it has to compete with fossil fuels and it's not there yet..

Right; key word is yet. Too many people seem to think that since it isn't a drop-in replacement for fossil fuels, no one (especially federal R&D) should spend any time or money on it.

[expatpat]

A little. I did research on II-VI photovoltaic effects some years back.

This growing tetrapods by getting the crystal to switch from the zinc-blende (cubic)stacking to wurtzite (hexagonal) is a pretty neat trick, but I'm skeptical about muchincreased efficiency -- because the space taken up by the bottom three pods will keep the upper pod on different tetrapods too far apart..

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Hmm, OK!

Guess we will need to depend on windpower for the Greenies!