Announcement - International Summer School on Photovoltaics (Quantsol)
The International Summer School on Photovoltaics and New Concepts of Quantum Solar Energy Conversion takes place from 9th to 16th September 2012 in Hirschegg, Kleinwalsertal, Austria. Young postdocs, PhD students, and master students can apply by 10th June 2012.Details of the school’s program can be found on the website.
The Quantsol Summer School - established as a "must " for prospective solar scientists - is held for the 5th time. The school primarily addresses young postdocs, PhD students, and students in their final year at university with a strong interest in photovoltaics. During the 7-day program you get a comprehensive introduction to relevant topics in photovoltaics. Various Experts from leading international research institutes and universitys explain wide range of topics on the fundamental principles of the conversion of solar energy into chemical to the implementation of photovoltaics. Technical applications, material aspects and special analytic methods will be discussed additionally.
- Perovskites: Hybrid materials as highly sensitive X-ray detectorsNew bismuth-based organic-inorganic hybrid materials show exceptional sensitivity and long-term stability as X-ray detectors, significantly more sensitive than commercial X-ray detectors. In addition, these materials can be produced without solvents by ball milling, a mechanochemical synthesis process that is environmentally friendly and scalable. More sensitive detectors would allow for a reduction in the radiation exposure during X-ray examinations.
- New instrument at BESSY II: The OÆSE endstation in EMILA new instrument is now available at BESSY II for investigating catalyst materials, battery electrodes and other energy devices under operating conditions: the Operando Absorption and Emission Spectroscopy on EMIL (OÆSE) endstation in the Energy Materials In-situ Laboratory Berlin (EMIL). A team led by Raul Garcia-Diez and Marcus Bär showcases the instrument’s capabilities via a proof-of-concept study on electrodeposited copper.
- Solar cells on moon glass for a future base on the moonFuture settlements on the moon will need energy, which could be supplied by photovoltaics. However, launching material into space is expensive – transporting one kilogram to the moon costs one million euros. But there are also resources on the moon that can be used. A research team led by Dr. Felix Lang of the University of Potsdam and Dr. Stefan Linke of the Technical University of Berlin have now produced the required glass from ‘moon dust’ (regolith) and coated it with perovskite. This could save up to 99 percent of the weight needed to produce PV modules on the moon. The team tested the radiation tolerance of the solar cells at the proton accelerator of the HZB.