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Solar Cell Functions During Sun or Rain

Posted May 15, 2016 12:00 AM by Engineering360 eNewsletter

Graphene has been called upon to further improve solar cells by providing these devices with the capability to generate power when it's raining. An all-weather solar cell triggered by both sunlight and raindrops, developed by Chinese researchers, combines an electron-enriched graphene electrode with a dye-sensitized solar cell. Positive ions from salts in raindrops bind to negative electrons in the atom-thick graphene layer on the flexible cell, forming a pseudocapacitor. Researchers documented a conversion efficiency of 6.53 % under AM 1.5 irradiation and current over microamps as well as a voltage of hundreds of microvolts by simulated raindrops.

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Rixter
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#1

Re: Solar Cell Functions During Sun or Rain

05/15/2016 7:33 AM

Interesting, but current in microamps times voltage in hundreds of microvolts gives you only hundreds of picowatts or maybe a nanowatt on a good day. I can't see this as a serious source of power.

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Usbport
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#2

Re: Solar Cell Functions During Sun or Rain

05/15/2016 11:24 AM

If only there was some way to capture all of that rain in a large reservoir of water, and then harness its potential energy using some kind of device that spins to make electric power...

I know; crazy, right?

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Rixter
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#3
In reply to #2

Re: Solar Cell Functions During Sun or Rain

05/15/2016 1:15 PM

Read the rules...you hafta use Graphene!

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Usbport
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#5
In reply to #3

Re: Solar Cell Functions During Sun or Rain

05/16/2016 9:54 AM

What do you think my tinfoil hat is made of?!

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Leonf
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Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - Not so new Member Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member Hobbies - Fishing - New Member, old hobby.

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#6
In reply to #5

Re: Solar Cell Functions During Sun or Rain

05/16/2016 4:21 PM

SIX beers down the line or L8ter----

.....................or some where thereabouts,..............:

Usporbt: R u the cat wot got ?:

a tinfoil cap with a Graphene spot,

that can take a drop,

to make a watt?

If this is not, then... .. .

Your hat is made of... .. . Tinfoil?

Help me...,

one could consider a vent, (made of tinfoil of course),

should one's rear wish to vent, (micro-turbine = power source!),

to harness 100 percent, (when one creates gas),

of the energy spent, (when one opens their ass.)

raindrops has went, (the drought is here!),

lets use the fart, (created with lots of beer.)

To create horsepower, (from our rear.)

6 , 9 cold beers in a dry country with severe drought & water restrictions = above crap poetical attempt.

It might sell here!

my fingers are bleeding an' my brain is shot from typing this!

Pleez hlp !........

Yr CR4 Frend...........

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Rixter
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#7
In reply to #6

Re: Solar Cell Functions During Sun or Rain

05/16/2016 7:57 PM

CR4 Poet Laureate!

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IQ
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Posts: 2004
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#4
In reply to #2

Re: Solar Cell Functions During Sun or Rain

05/16/2016 3:23 AM

What! Are you mad? Who in there right mind is going to invent a hydro plant and free fall water, using some gravity to turn a wheel to turn a generator set, to produce electricity. Are you from another planet. Sheer lunacy sir!
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Peterpipper
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#8

Re: Solar Cell Functions During Sun or Rain

05/17/2016 8:23 AM

Piezo generator is more interesting than this.

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