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Nanoscale Photovoltaics and the Terawatt Challenge

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Nanoscale Applications for Information and Energy Systems

Part of the book series: Nanostructure Science and Technology ((NST))

Abstract

Achieving a sustainable energy system providing terawatts (TWs) of electricity is one of the defining challenges of the coming decades. Photovoltaic technology provides the most likely path to realizing TW scale conversion of solar energy in the future and has been on a nearly 40% growth curve over the past two decades. In order to maintain this rapid level of growth, innovations in cell design and conversion efficiency are needed that are compatible with existing technology and can lead to improved performance and lower cost. Nanotechnology offers a number of advantages to realizing such innovation, by providing new materials and the implementation of advanced concepts that circumvent the current physical limits on efficiency. This chapter reviews several of the promising applications of nanotechnology to photovoltaic technologies and their prospects for the future.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Oil is not used for large-scale electricity production, but is coupled through suggestions of shifting transport demand to either natural gas derivatives (which impacts peaking power for electricity) or directly though electric hybrids.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, Arizona State University, 875706, Tempe, AZ, 85287-5706, USA

    Stephen M. Goodnick, Nikolai Faleev & Christiana Honsberg

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  1. Stephen M. Goodnick
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  2. Nikolai Faleev
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  3. Christiana Honsberg
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Correspondence to Stephen M. Goodnick .

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  1. Nano and Giga Solutions, Inc., Gilbert, 85296, Arizona, USA

    Anatoli Korkin

  2. Institute for Microstructural Sciences, National Research Council of Canada, Montreal Road, Ottawa, K1A 0R6, Ontario, Canada

    David J. Lockwood

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Goodnick, S.M., Faleev, N., Honsberg, C. (2013). Nanoscale Photovoltaics and the Terawatt Challenge. In: Korkin, A., Lockwood, D. (eds) Nanoscale Applications for Information and Energy Systems. Nanostructure Science and Technology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5016-0_3

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