Nano flake

In a general meaning a nanoflake is a flake (that is, an uneven piece of material with one dimension substantially smaller than the other two.)with at least one nanometric dimension (that is, between 1 and 100 nm). A flake is not necessarily perfectly flat but it is characterized by a plate-like morphology. There are nanoflakes of all sorts of materials. In a more restricted meaning, in the context of solar energy, Nano flakes are a type of semiconductors that have potential for solar energy creation as the product itself is only in the prototype phase. With its crystalline structure the crystals are able to absorb light and harvest 30 percent of solar energy directed at its surface. These Nano Flakes will also help out with economic and environmental problems associated with solar energy. Working on this Nano Flake Technology is Dr. Martin Aagesen at the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen with a PhD from the Nano Science Center. When Dr. Martin Aagesen discovered and published this new idea in 2007 there was much publicity about it and sparked many people to work on it.[1] One major company that is working on these Nano structures is SunFlake which is a science company from the Nano Science Center with Dr. Martin Aagesen as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The funding for the Nano flakes came from Danish Venture Capital fund SEED capital and University of Copenhagen.[2]

Structure

The Nano flakes have a structure that contains tiny crystals in which millions of these crystals could fit into single square centimeter. The tiny crystals absorb the sunlight and use the solar energy to convert it to electricity. This perfect crystalline structure is why this product can revolutionize solar energy.[3] The large surface to volume ratio of and the texture if the surface of this nano structure is what helps with the larger absorption rate of the sun's light energy. Also researchers are working on trying to combine it with different semiconducting materials since the usual requirements for instance a need for a similar crystal structure for the carrier substrate is less stressed in the Nano flakes structure. The carrier substrate in the Nano flakes purpose is to permit growth of the nano structures and works as contact for the Nano structures when they are active absorbing the sun's energy.[2]

Purpose

Solar energy obtained from the Nano flakes can help benefit in a couple of ways. One reason solar energy is not used today is because the high cost of the materials but Nano flakes will help lower the cost. Also since more solar energy will be obtained from the Nano flakes it will keep the earth's environment cleaner as less fossil fuels will be needed.

Cost

Today there is a high cost for solar energy due the difficulty of converting the solar energy into electricity for use and less than 1 percent of the world's electricity comes from the sun because of this process.[4] The Nano flakes will help with the economic issues of solar energy by lowering the cost due to an easier process and a better outcome of energy. The Nano flake technology is going to make it easier to convert solar energy into electricity which is estimated to be twice the amount that solar cells today can harvest. This new technology will also lower the cost of solar energy because they will use less of the high costing semiconducting silicon.[3] Also this will prevent more energy loss since the distance of the solar energy transportation will be much shorter since the Nano flakes have a smaller size. The sun is also viable resource for energy and electricity because there is no limit of the resource like fossil fuels such as coal and natural gases. Since there is not a limited availability of the sun's energy, this would also help lower the price of electricity.[5]

Environment

Nano Flake technology can also help keep the environment cleaner as the sun as the source it produces clean pure sustainable energy that can be converted into electricity.[4] While fossil fuels is the primary energy source for electricity using solar energy obtained from Nano flakes will lower the dependence that is on fossil fuels. When fossil fuels are burned for use they release a toxic gas which has a huge impact on earth's pollution.[5] Also the process to obtain these fossil fuels is not good for the environment with mining for coal, drilling for oil, and hydraulic fracturing the earth's surface to reach the oil and gas.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Nano Flakes Could Make PV More Efficient". www.renewableenergyworld.com. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  2. 1 2 "Nano-flake structure boosts solar cell performance - Eco-innovation Action Plan - European Commission". Eco-innovation Action Plan. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  3. 1 2 "Nano Flakes promise greater solar energy efficiency". www.gizmag.com. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  4. 1 2 "Nano Flakes May Revolutionize Solar Cells". www.sciencedaily.com. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  5. 1 2 "Uncover the Benefits of Solar Energy". solarcity.com. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  6. ↑ Boudet, Hilary; Clarke, Christopher; Bugden, Dylan; Maibach, Edward; Roser-Renouf, Connie; Leiserowitz, Anthony (2014-02-01). ""Fracking" controversy and communication: Using national survey data to understand public perceptions of hydraulic fracturing". Energy Policy 65: 57–67. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2013.10.017.
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