Skip to main content

Part of the book series: Topics in Applied Chemistry ((TAPP))

  • 204 Accesses

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. R. H. Romer, Energy: An Introduction to Physics, W. H. Freeman, San Francisco (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  2. L. R. Milgrom, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 2537 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  3. L. R. Milgrom, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1483 (1984) and references cited therein.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. F. J. Kampas, K. Yamashita, and J. Fajer, Nature 284, 40 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. New Scientist 89, 279 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  6. G. A. Chamberlain and P. J. Cooney, Nature 289, 45 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. BASF, German Patents 3001,857 and 3001,858 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bayer, German Patent 3001,877 (1980); European Patent 25,136 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bayer, German Patent 3001,149 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  10. 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).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Teijin, European Patent 41,274 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Fraunhofer Ges Ford Ange, European Patent 46,164 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  13. BASF, German Patent 3217,097 (1982); European Patent 93,967 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  14. M. J. Cook and A. J. Thomson, Chem Br., 20, 914, (1984).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints 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

Publish with us

Policies and ethics