25% Milestone

A team of scientists, led by Martin Green and Stuart Wenham, at the University of New South Wales’ ARC Photovoltaic Centre of Excellence has created the worlds first silicon solar cell with an efficiency of over 25%. This is basically the same cell that used to be the previous record holder, with an efficiency of 24.7%. The standard test for solar cells is to subject them to a given spectrum of light, which is supposed to mimic that produced by the sun. The standards for this spectrum was recently revised, and it was this that led to the increase in efficiency for this cell. 

Other types of solar cells have achieved much higher levels of efficiency, with the current record holder being a cell created by scientists at the University of Delaware with 42.8% efficiency. 

The most important aspect of solar cells is not, however, the efficiency itself, but the efficiency-cost ratio. The cells have to be cheap enough to be an affordable alternative to other energy sources, while still be able to produce enough energy to be worth the effort. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DCSs) are beneficial in that they are thin, flexible and low-cost. The efficiency is not as high as for silicon-based solar cells, with the current record being about 11%. A solvent-free type DCS, which is more suitable for outdoor use, recently managed 8.2% efficiency.

The Amazing Titan 80-300 Cubed

The Titan 80-300 Cubed is the worlds most advanced electron microscope, and was recently installed at the Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy at McMaster. It produces images with a gargantuan 14 million times magnification, which is sufficient to easily image single atoms. Mo Elbestawi, VP at McMaster, even says that the Titan is powerful enough for researchers to investigate the electrons surrounding the atom nucleus. The potential applications of this microscope are endless, including advances in nanotechnology, medical research, electronics and material research. Electron microscopy is a rapidly evolving field of research, and new microscopes that will eventually surpass the Titan’s abilities are currently under way. 

Close-up of the surface of an aluminium alloy taken by the Titan (and yes, those are individual atoms)