The CHARGE is on: Photovoltaics vs Nanoantennas vs Thermoelectric vs Solar Panel
Hottest, Coolest, Thinnest, and Cheapest solar power "panels" (materials) yet.
Photovoltaic (PV) Cells PV's are being affixed to garments, backpacks, and women's handbags, (but have also shown up in building material such as roof shingles). The wearable / portable chargers are generally used to juice up your small gadgets, cell phones, iPods, headsets, etc. The hottest item I've found so far is the Iqua SUN - the first Bluetooth Wireless Headset using indoor and outdoor light. So if you have solar power, supping your lights at home they can be doing double duty with this uber innovation. PV's fulfill two functions: photogeneration of charge carriers (electrons and holes) in a light absorbing material, and separation of the charge carriers to a conductive contact that will transmit the electricity.
Nanoantennas (aka: Nanoskins): They haven't found a way to make the Nanoantennas work yet, but the material absorbs energy by resonance, which is approximately 80% efficient. The energy is conducted thru different polymers, but but haven't been able to control the flow back through the conductor, but they have made great strides in the past year. The benefits of Nano's are that they can continue to pull / store energy even when there's no sun - they absorb heat and infrared light - so the exhaust from your car could charge the battery, or "drive" your air conditioner. The heat coming off of your computer could generate its own cooling system - how cool is that literally? The Nanoskins are literally as thin as a sheet of transparency.
Thermoelectric: This is generated from solar panels, but inside the electronic components with use thermoelectric modules - essentially a semiconductor material sandwiched between ceramic tiles. These devices will convert electricity from the solar panel into cold air - called the Rankine cycle. Thermoelectric modules typically made out of bismuth telluride, are already used in low-energy applications like cooling car seats or computer chips. A handful of companies are trying to marry the technology to renewable energy and apply it far more broadly. If successful the company's end product will be a small building to store milk, medicines and other perishable goods in India and other places that don't have reliable electricity.
The old workhorse: Solar Panels: Are now coming out in incredibly portable packages. One briefcase sized item will pack on 20 pounds to your load, but will give you the energy to carry on. The Sola Unagi, designed by Fuji Africa has two powerful solar panels that generate 13 watts of power each. It can will run your laptop for up to six hours, and a mini fridge for four, or you can charge 20 mobile phones all at the same time. The company is targeting it toward doctors, field researchers, universities, farmers, shop owners, and soldiers who might need a reliable source of electricity. Sharp has showcased a 26 inch Solar Powered LCD TV, which also consumes 30% less energy - perfect for teh 1.6 billion people living below the poverty line.
There are no losers, sun powered technology is running at the speed of light...
Hottest, Coolest, Thinnest, and Cheapest solar power "panels" (materials) yet.
Photovoltaic (PV) Cells PV's are being affixed to garments, backpacks, and women's handbags, (but have also shown up in building material such as roof shingles). The wearable / portable chargers are generally used to juice up your small gadgets, cell phones, iPods, headsets, etc. The hottest item I've found so far is the Iqua SUN - the first Bluetooth Wireless Headset using indoor and outdoor light. So if you have solar power, supping your lights at home they can be doing double duty with this uber innovation. PV's fulfill two functions: photogeneration of charge carriers (electrons and holes) in a light absorbing material, and separation of the charge carriers to a conductive contact that will transmit the electricity.
Nanoantennas (aka: Nanoskins): They haven't found a way to make the Nanoantennas work yet, but the material absorbs energy by resonance, which is approximately 80% efficient. The energy is conducted thru different polymers, but but haven't been able to control the flow back through the conductor, but they have made great strides in the past year. The benefits of Nano's are that they can continue to pull / store energy even when there's no sun - they absorb heat and infrared light - so the exhaust from your car could charge the battery, or "drive" your air conditioner. The heat coming off of your computer could generate its own cooling system - how cool is that literally? The Nanoskins are literally as thin as a sheet of transparency.
Thermoelectric: This is generated from solar panels, but inside the electronic components with use thermoelectric modules - essentially a semiconductor material sandwiched between ceramic tiles. These devices will convert electricity from the solar panel into cold air - called the Rankine cycle. Thermoelectric modules typically made out of bismuth telluride, are already used in low-energy applications like cooling car seats or computer chips. A handful of companies are trying to marry the technology to renewable energy and apply it far more broadly. If successful the company's end product will be a small building to store milk, medicines and other perishable goods in India and other places that don't have reliable electricity.
The old workhorse: Solar Panels: Are now coming out in incredibly portable packages. One briefcase sized item will pack on 20 pounds to your load, but will give you the energy to carry on. The Sola Unagi, designed by Fuji Africa has two powerful solar panels that generate 13 watts of power each. It can will run your laptop for up to six hours, and a mini fridge for four, or you can charge 20 mobile phones all at the same time. The company is targeting it toward doctors, field researchers, universities, farmers, shop owners, and soldiers who might need a reliable source of electricity. Sharp has showcased a 26 inch Solar Powered LCD TV, which also consumes 30% less energy - perfect for teh 1.6 billion people living below the poverty line.
There are no losers, sun powered technology is running at the speed of light...
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