Abstract
The energy output from the sun is enormous; it has been estimated at 3.8 × 1026 W.1 The amount of energy that falls on the earth’s surface in clear weather, with the sun at its zenith, is approximately 1 kWm-2. Nature has been harnessing this energy for millions of years using photosynthesis to convert the radiant energy into chemical energy. With the recent energy crises and the controversies over nuclear power, it is hardly surprising that serious efforts are now being made to convert solar energy into electrical energy.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
R. H. Romer, Energy: An Introduction to Physics, W. H. Freeman, San Francisco (1976).
L. R. Milgrom, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 2537 (1983).
L. R. Milgrom, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1483 (1984) and references cited therein.
F. J. Kampas, K. Yamashita, and J. Fajer, Nature 284, 40 (1980).
New Scientist 89, 279 (1981).
G. A. Chamberlain and P. J. Cooney, Nature 289, 45 (1981).
BASF, German Patents 3001,857 and 3001,858 (1980).
Bayer, German Patent 3001,877 (1980); European Patent 25,136 (1979).
Bayer, German Patent 3001,149 (1980).
Shell, G. B. Patent 2080,615 (1980). The Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, Japanese Patents J56035,477 (1979), J56130,976 (1980), and J56137,683 (1980).
Teijin, European Patent 41,274 (1980).
Fraunhofer Ges Ford Ange, European Patent 46,164 (1980).
BASF, German Patent 3217,097 (1982); European Patent 93,967 (1982).
M. J. Cook and A. J. Thomson, Chem Br., 20, 914, (1984).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gregory, P. (1991). Solar Cells. In: High-Technology Applications of Organic Colorants. Topics in Applied Chemistry. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3822-6_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3822-6_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6705-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-3822-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive