An ice machine adapted into an autonomous photovoltaic system without batteries using a variable-speed drive

The adaptation of a commercially available ice machine for autonomous photovoltaic operation without batteries is presented. In this adaptation a 1040 W(p) photovoltaic array directly feeds a variable-speed drive and a 24 V(dc) source. The drive runs an induction motor coupled by belt-and-pulley to an open reciprocating compressor, while the dc source supplies a solenoid valve and the control electronics. Motor speed and refrigerant evaporation pressure are set aiming at continuously matching system power demand to photovoltaic power availability. The resulting system is a simple integration of robust, standard, readily available parts. It produces 27 kg of ice in a clear-sky day and has ice production costs around US$0.30/kg. Although a few machine features might be specific to Brazil, its technical and economical guidelines are applicable elsewhere. Copyright (C); 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Six-element circuit for maximum power point tracking in photovoltaic-motor systems with variable-frequency drives

A low-cost circuit was developed for stable and efficient maximum power point (MPP) tracking in autonomous photo voltaic-motor systems with variable-frequency drives (VFDs). The circuit is made of two resistors, two capacitors, and two Zener diodes. Its input is the photovoltaic (PV) array voltage and its output feeds the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller usually integrated into, the drive. The steady-state frequency-voltage oscillations induced by the circuit were treated in a simplified mathematical model, which was validated by widely characterizing a PV-powered centrifugal pump. General procedures for circuit and controller tuning were recommended based on model equations. The tracking circuit presented here is widely applicable to PV-motor system with VFDs, offering an. efficient open-access technology of unique simplicity. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS OF MAXIMUM POWER GENERATED BY PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS AND FITTING CURVES FOR STANDARD TEST CONDITIONS

The rural electrification is characterized by geographical dispersion of the population, low consumption, high investment by consumers and high cost. Moreover, solar radiation constitutes an inexhaustible source of energy and in its conversion into electricity photovoltaic panels are used. In this study, equations were adjusted to field conditions presented by the manufacturer for current and power of small photovoltaic systems. The mathematical analysis was performed on the photovoltaic rural system I- 100 from ISOFOTON, with power 300 Wp, located at the Experimental Farm Lageado of FCA/UNESP. For the development of such equations, the circuitry of photovoltaic cells has been studied to apply iterative numerical methods for the determination of electrical parameters and possible errors in the appropriate equations in the literature to reality. Therefore, a simulation of a photovoltaic panel was proposed through mathematical equations that were adjusted according to the data of local radiation. The results have presented equations that provide real answers to the user and may assist in the design of these systems, once calculated that the maximum power limit ensures a supply of energy generated. This real sizing helps establishing the possible applications of solar energy to the rural producer and informing the real possibilities of generating electricity from the sun.

Cu nanoparticles enable plasmonic-improved silicon photovoltaic devices

This work examines the effect of copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) on the photocurrent efficiency of silicon photovoltaic (Si PV) devices. An optimized synthesis of stable Cu NPs is reported together with a procedure for their immobilization on the Si PV surface. A comprehensive analysis of the photocurrent and power dependence of the Cu NPs surface coverage and size is presented. A decrease in photoconversion was observed for wavelengths shorter than similar to 500 nm, due to the Cu interband absorption. In the low surface coverage limit, where the level of aggregation was found to be low, the surface plasmon resonance absorption dominates leading to a modest effect on the photocurrent response. As the number of aggregates increased with the surface coverage, the photocurrent efficiency also increased, and a maximum enhancement power conversion of 16% was found for a 54 +/- 6 NPs per mu m(2) PV cell. This enhancement was attributed to SPR light scattering and trapping into the Si PV device. Higher surface coverage yielded numerous aggregates which acted as a bulk coating and caused a decrease in both photocurrent and power measurements.

Photophysical and photovoltaic properties of a PPV type copolymer containing alternated fluorene and thiophene units

The synthesis and photophysical characterization of a PPV-type copolymer containing a fluorene derivative alternated with thiophene units is presented: poly(9,9'-dioctylfluorene-thiophene) (LAPPS29). Photophysical studies demonstrated that in the solid state only preformed ground state aggregates are responsible for exciton formation. These aggregates are formed with a wide range of size distribution. The emission from isolated segments is quenched either by resonant energy transfer, or by migration processes. Also, the main photovoltaic parameters are discussed in connection with the photophysical behavior.

Synthesis and photovoltaic performance of a fluorene-bithiophene copolymer

We present the synthesis of a copolymer structure, poly(9,9′-n-di-hexyl-2,7-fluorene-alt-2,5- bithiophene), referred to herein as LaPPS43, and its physico-chemical characterization. Thin films of this polymer mixed with phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) were used as the active layer in photovoltaic devices using the ITO/PEDOT:PSS/LaPPS43: PCBM/Ca/Al bulk heterojunction structure. The devices of different active layer thicknesses were electrically studied using J-V curves and the Photo-Celiv technique. The obtained results show that LaPPS43 combined with PCBM is a promising system for photovoltaic devices. Device performance is discussed in terms of the mean drift distance x for charge carriers. Photophysical data showed that the excitonic species are all localized in the aggregated forms. The mechanism of exciton formation and dissociation is also discussed.

Making the case for grid-connected photovoltaics in Brazil

In the developed world, grid-connected photovoltaics (PVs) are the fastest-growing segment of the energy market. From 1999 to 2009, this industry had a 42% compound annual growth-rate. From 2009 to 2013, it is expected to grow to 45%, and in 2013 the achievement of grid parity - when the cost of solar electricity becomes competitive with conventional retail (including taxes and charges) grid-supplied electricity - is expected in many places worldwide. Grid-connected PV is usually perceived as an energy technology for developed countries, whereas isolated, stand-alone PV is considered as more suited for applications in developing nations, where so many individuals still lack access to electricity. This rationale is based on the still high costs of PV when compared with conventional electricity. We make the case for grid-connected PV generation in Brazil, showing that with the declining costs of PV and the rising prices of conventional electricity, urban populations in Brazil will also enjoy grid parity in the present decade. We argue that governments in developing nations should act promptly and establish the mandates and necessary conditions for their energy industry to accumulate experience in grid-connected PV, and make the most of this benign technology in the near future. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

CdSe/CdTe interface band gaps and band offsets calculated using spin-orbit and self-energy corrections

We performed ab initio calculations of the electronic structures of bulk CdSe and CdTe, and their interface band alignments on the CdSe in-plane lattice parameters. For this, we employed the LDA-1/2 self-energy correction scheme [L.G. Ferreira, M. Marques, L.K. Teles, Phys. Rev. B 78 (2008) 125116] to obtain corrected band gaps and band offsets. Our calculations include the spin-orbit effects for the bulk cases, which have shown to be of importance for the equilibrium systems and are possibly degraded in these strained semiconductors. Therefore, the SO showed reduced importance for the band alignment of this particular system. Moreover, the electronic structure calculated along the transition region across the CdSe/CdTe interface shows an interesting non-monotonic variation of the band gap in the range 0.8-1.8 eV, which may enhance the absorption of light for corresponding frequencies at the interface between these two materials in photovoltaic applications. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Indirect doping of microstructures fabricated by two-photon polymerization with gold nanoparticles

Nanoplasmonics and metamaterials sciences are rapidly growing due to their contributions to photonic devices fabrication with applications ranging from biomedicine to photovoltaic cells. Noble metal nanoparticles incorporated into polymer matrix have great potential for such applications due to their distinctive optical properties. However, methods to indirectly incorporate metal nanoparticles into polymeric microstructures are still on demand. Here we report on the fabrication of two-photon polymerized microstructures doped with gold nanoparticles through an indirect doping process, so they do not interfere in the two-photon polymerization (2PP) process. Such microstructures present a strong emission, arising from gold nanoparticles fluorescence. The microstructures produced are potential candidates for nanoplasmonics and metamaterials devices applications and the nanoparticles production method can be applied in many samples, heated simultaneously, opening the possibility for large scale processes. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America

Photo-induced electron transfer in supramolecular materials of titania nanostructures and cytochrome c

In the present paper, we report on the molecular interaction and photochemistry of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and cytochrome c systems for understanding the effects of supramolecular organization and electron transfer by using two TiO2 structures: P25 TiO2 NPs and titanate nanotubes. The adsorption and reduction of cytochrome c heme iron promoted by photo-excited TiO2, arranged as P25 TiO2 NPs and as nanotubes, were characterized using electronic absorption spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and atomic force microscopy. In an aqueous buffered suspension (pH 8.0), the mass of cytochrome c adsorbed on the P25 TiO2 NP surface was 2.3 fold lower (0.75 mu g m(-2)) than that adsorbed on the titanate nanotubes (1.75 mu g m(-2)). Probably due to the high coverage of titanate nanotubes by adsorbed cytochrome c, the low amount of soluble remaining protein was not as efficiently photo-reduced by this nanostructure as it was by the P25 TiO2 NPs. Cytochrome c, which desorbed from both titanium materials, did not exhibit changes in its redox properties. In the presence of the TiO2 NPs, the photo-induced electron transfer from water to soluble cytochrome c heme iron was corroborated by the following findings: (i) identification by EPR of the hydroxyl radical production during the irradiation of an aqueous suspension of TiO2 NPs, (ii) impairment of a cytochrome c reduction by photo-excited TiO2 in the presence of dioxane, which affects the dielectric constant of the water, and (iii) change in the rate of TiO2-promoted cytochrome c reduction when water was replaced with D2O. The TiO2-promoted photo-reduction of cytochrome c was reverted by peroxides. Cytochrome c incorporated in the titanate nanotubes was also reversibly reduced under irradiation, as confirmed by EPR and UV-visible spectroscopy.

Synthesis and Solar Cell Application of New Alternating Donor-Acceptor Copolymers Based on Variable Units of Fluorene, Thiophene, and Phenylene

A new series of donor acceptor copolymers were synthesized via the Witting route and applied as an active layer in organic thin-films solar cells. These copolymers are composed of fluorene thiophene and phenylene thiophene units. The ratio between those was systematically varied, and copolymers containing 0%, 50%, and 75% of phenylene thiophene were characterized and evaluated when used in photovoltaic devices. The copolymers' composition, photophysical, electrical, and morphological properties are addressed and correlated with device performance. The 50% copolymer ratio was found to be the best copolymer of the series, yielding a power conversion efficiency (PCE) under air mass (AM) 1.5 conditions of 2.4% in the bilayer heterojunction with the C-60 molecule. Aiming at flexible electronics applications, solutions based on the heterojunction of this copolymer with PCBM (6,6-phenyl-C-61-butyric acid methyl ester) were also successfully deposited using an inkjet printing method and used as an active layer in solar cells.

Photoconduction action spectra of regio-regular poly(3-hexylthiopene):TiO2 diodes

The development of polymer-based photovoltaic devices brings the promise of low-cost and lightweight solar energy conversion systems. This technology requires new materials and device architectures with enhanced efficiency and lifetime, which depends on the understanding of charge-transport mechanisms. Organic films combined with electronegative nanoparticles may form systems with efficient dissociation of the photogenerated excitons, thus increasing the number of carriers to be collected by the electrodes. In this paper we investigate the steady-state photoconductive action spectra of devices formed by a bilayer of regio-regular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (RRP3HT) and TiO2 sandwiched between ITO and aluminum electrodes (ITO/TiO2:RRP3HT/Al). Photocurrents were measured for distinct bias voltages with illumination from either side of the device. Heterojunction structures were prepared by spin coating a RRP3HT film on an already deposited TiO2 layer on ITO. Symbatic and antibatic curves were obtained and a model for photocurrent action spectra was able to fit the symbatic responses. The quantum yield increased with the electric field, indicating that exciton dissociation is a field-assisted process as in an Onsager mechanism. Furthermore, the quantum yield was significantly higher when illumination was carried out through the ITO electrode onto which the TiO2 layer was deposited, as the highly electronegative TiO2 nanoparticles were efficient in exciton dissociation.