scrAPES Week 7
Topic: New Solar Cells Use Perovskite to Turn Water into Energy
By: Tim Wogan and ChemistryWorld
Date: September 29, 2014
Summary
The rising popularity of solar energy has caused many homeowners and business owners to adopt the greener lifestyle. However, the technology is still relatively new to the market, and much refinement and improvement must be put into the process of acquiring solar energy to make solar panels available to more people. This is why the introduction of perovskite, a possible alternative to silicon as a solar cell, has caught the eye of numerous researchers. Perovskite's numerous advantages to silicon, such as its better cost-effectiveness and efficiency, may make it the next element used in solar panels in the near future.
Reflection
Perovskite's listed advantages could definitely change the energy market drastically if silicon is abandoned from use by solar panel manufacturers. This may prove to be beneficial to our environment and economy, as an increase in availability of solar panels will reduce the carbon footprint of US citizens, and the government may be able to shift away from importing fossil fuels and focus on more efficient means of acquiring energy. This route, however, will most likely require extensive R&D, which will definitely cost exorbitant amounts of money. In order to acquire this funding, education should be used as a tool for awareness to convince the government to give up fossil fuels - or risk the planet.
By: Tim Wogan and ChemistryWorld
Date: September 29, 2014
Summary
The rising popularity of solar energy has caused many homeowners and business owners to adopt the greener lifestyle. However, the technology is still relatively new to the market, and much refinement and improvement must be put into the process of acquiring solar energy to make solar panels available to more people. This is why the introduction of perovskite, a possible alternative to silicon as a solar cell, has caught the eye of numerous researchers. Perovskite's numerous advantages to silicon, such as its better cost-effectiveness and efficiency, may make it the next element used in solar panels in the near future.
Reflection
Perovskite's listed advantages could definitely change the energy market drastically if silicon is abandoned from use by solar panel manufacturers. This may prove to be beneficial to our environment and economy, as an increase in availability of solar panels will reduce the carbon footprint of US citizens, and the government may be able to shift away from importing fossil fuels and focus on more efficient means of acquiring energy. This route, however, will most likely require extensive R&D, which will definitely cost exorbitant amounts of money. In order to acquire this funding, education should be used as a tool for awareness to convince the government to give up fossil fuels - or risk the planet.