Page 10 - Climate Control News Magazine July 2021

News
Research to improve solar performance
Researchers added a layer to silicon solar cells that absorbed more of the energy spectrum.
The highest possible performance of silicon solar cells is around 32 per cent of capacity. This means only about 32 per cent of the ener- gy available in sunlight can be captured by sili- con solar cells.
Placing such a perovskite solar cell on top of a silicon solar cell, known as a tandem solar cell, can effectively boost the overall performance of the stack up to roughly 42 per cent.
Since small changes to the perovskite compo- sition can tune the absorption spectrum of per- ovskite solar cells relatively easily, it is possible to create a perovskite solar cell that absorbs the higher energy light but lets the lower energy light pass through.
The research team used the imaging and dif- fraction protocol developed at the Monash Cen- tre for Electron Microscopy (MCEM) to study the crystal structure of a range of perovskite solar cell materials in their pristine state.
Lead corresponding author, Professor Joanne Etheridge, director of the MCEM and Professor in the Department of Materials Science and En- gineering, said disruptions in the periodic crys- tal structure can have a strong influence on the material’s electronic properties.
“Being able to map the local crystal structure of a thin film of perovskite light absorber and correlatethiswiththeoverallsolarcelldevice performance provides exciting new insights into how device performance can be improved,” Pro- fessor Etheridge said.
Lead author, Dr Wei Li from the Wuhan Uni- versity of Technology said to make a good solar cell, a material must be able to transform sun- light into electricity efficiently and do so out- doors for many decades.
THE POTENTIAL OF a class of materials called perovskites to enable solar cells to better absorb sunlight for energy production is widely known. However,thispotentialhasyettobefullyrealised, particularly under real-world operating conditions.
New research published last month in the Na- ture Energy, has revealed defects in a popular perovskite light absorber that impede solar cell performance.
The researchers found a change in the nature and density of these ‘intragrain planar defects’ cor- related with a change in solar cell performance.
The discovery by an international team of re- searchers, led by Monash University and Wu- han University of Technology, could lead to im- proved solar cell technology and provide another step towards reducing the use of fossil fuels for energy.
Perovskite light absorbers have the potential to improve the efficiency of established silicon solar cells by adding an additional layer that can absorb colours, or parts of the energy spec- trum, of sunlight which current silicon solar cells cannot.
Air filtration deal
DAIKIN HAS ANNOUNCED a partnership with American Air Filter (AAF) to distribute air filtration products to the Australian market.
The distribution relationship will strengthen Daikin’s response to the growing need for venti- lation and air purification and will work to posi- tion itself as a ‘company that provides solutions with air.’
A pioneer in clean air innovation for nearly 100 years, AAF is recognised globally for quality, ex- pertise, and innovation in air filtration.
As one of the world’s largest manufacturers of commercial and industrial air filters, AAF makes a variety of products for removing and control- ling airborne particulates and gaseous contami-
nants. Since 2007, AAF has been a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd.
By combining Daikin’s market leading HVAC capabilities and AAF’s air filtration expertise, Daikin can offer an all-in-one-solution for any building’s HVAC systems both at the time of in- stall and for ongoing maintenance.
In 2015, AAF Asia’s regional headquarters ex- panded into Australia with sales offices and warehouses in Sydney and Melbourne.
These strategic locations allow for short lead times and cost competitive delivery. AAF fil- ters are now available from Daikin and Daikin Distribution Centres (commercial.daikin.com. au/ddc).
Daikin is offering an all-in-one solution at time of install.
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