The EPSRC nanotechnology image library

Nanotechnology and photovoltaics

Scientists at the University of Sheffield shed light on an alternative and more economical way of harnessing the Sun's energy...

There's only one source of renewable energy that can provide all of the world's needs and that's the Sun. In fact, enough sunlight falls on the Earth's surface in just a couple of hours each day to meet the whole world's energy needs for one year. The question is: how can we effectively and economically harness this solar energy, without mass-producing very expensive conventional solar cells, which would ultimately require vast tracts of land in order to do their job?

Nanotechnology could provide the answer in the form of a new kind of solar cell, one which would be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and highly flexible in design. In fact, you maybe surprised as to just how flexible these cells might be! Find out more by watching this movie.

You can also download this movie in Quicktime (.mov) format. File size is 19 MB : DOWNLOAD

Movie credits

Scientific Direction : Richard Jones

Camera : Jeff Baggott

CGI : Nick Dulake at Design Futures

Edit : Neil Fergusson

Sound Composition : Neil Webb

Post-Production Sound : Ron Wright

Research : Andy Eccleston

Production : Debbie Ballin

Direction : Jeff Baggott

Thanks to : David Lidzey

Copyright 2007 : EPSRC, Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield

 

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 License. All image post-treatments by Andy Eccleston.