The ZEUS Undertaking to harness photo voltaic vitality in area with nanowire know-how
by Hugo Ritmico
Madrid, Spain (SPXR) Oct 10, 2024
The College of Malaga (UMA) is collaborating in a global consortium to advance the gathering and transmission of photo voltaic vitality in area by way of the ‘ZEUS’ challenge, a part of the Horizon EIC Pathfinder Challenges. This European challenge, coordinated by Lund College in Sweden, has been awarded practically euro 4 million to develop modern nanowire photo voltaic cells designed to function within the harsh circumstances of area.
The ZEUS challenge, or Zero-loss Power harvesting Utilizing nanowire photo voltaic cells in House, focuses on creating radiation-resistant photovoltaic cells that may effectively take up photo voltaic vitality. Nanowires, that are needle-shaped constructions simply 200 nanometers in diameter-much thinner than a human hair-allow for prime resistance to radiation and optimum gentle absorption.
“Overlaying roughly 10 p.c of a floor with energetic materials is all that’s wanted to soak up as a lot gentle as a skinny layer protecting your complete floor of the identical materials would do,” defined Enrique Barrigon, professor of Utilized Physics I at UMA and the challenge lead on the college.
At the moment, nanowire photo voltaic cells utilized in area obtain round 15% effectivity. ZEUS goals to spice up this considerably, doubtlessly reaching as much as 47% effectivity by using superior III-V semiconductor supplies. The challenge additionally explores transferring these photo voltaic cells to versatile, light-weight substrates, which may very well be used to create giant deployable photovoltaic panels for area purposes.
Along with its deal with technical innovation, the ZEUS challenge emphasizes environmental sustainability, together with decarbonization and the environment friendly use of important uncooked supplies. Professor Barrigon highlighted that the challenge not solely seeks to display the industrial viability of nanowire photo voltaic cells but in addition to evaluate their environmental influence, notably for space-based energy technology techniques. One potential software is rising the facility output of communications satellites.
The College of Malaga will play a key position in characterizing these superior photo voltaic cells and conducting the assessments required to make sure their sturdiness within the area atmosphere.
The Horizon EIC Pathfinder Challenges program helps pioneering applied sciences like ZEUS that would form the long run by enabling the event of revolutionary applied sciences. The College of Malaga can be concerned in different initiatives below this program, together with ‘BioRobot-MiniHeart’ and ‘SONICOM,’ furthering its contributions to cutting-edge innovation.
Analysis Undertaking:Zero-loss Power harvesting Utilizing nanowire photo voltaic cells in House (ZEUS)
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