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Journal ArticleDOI

Research opportunities to advance solar energy utilization

Nathan S. Lewis
- 22 Jan 2016 - 
- Vol. 351, Iss: 6271, pp 353-353
TLDR
Lewis reviews the status of solar thermal and solar fuels approaches for harnessing solar energy, as well as technology gaps for achieving cost-effective scalable deployment combined with storage technologies to provide reliable, dispatchable energy.
Abstract
Major developments, as well as remaining challenges and the associated research opportunities, are evaluated for three technologically distinct approaches to solar energy utilization: solar electricity, solar thermal, and solar fuels technologies. Much progress has been made, but research opportunities are still present for all approaches. Both evolutionary and revolutionary technology development, involving foundational research, applied research, learning by doing, demonstration projects, and deployment at scale will be needed to continue this technology-innovation ecosystem. Most of the approaches still offer the potential to provide much higher efficiencies, much lower costs, improved scalability, and new functionality, relative to the embodiments of solar energy-conversion systems that have been developed to date.

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Citations
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References
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Journal ArticleDOI

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

TL;DR: Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) offer the possibilities to design solar cells with a large flexibility in shape, color, and transparency as mentioned in this paper, and many DSC research groups have been established around the world.
Journal ArticleDOI

Solar Water Splitting Cells

TL;DR: The biggest challenge is whether or not the goals need to be met to fully utilize solar energy for the global energy demand can be met in a costeffective way on the terawatt scale.
Journal ArticleDOI

The emergence of perovskite solar cells

TL;DR: In this article, a review describes the rapid progress that has been made in hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells and their applications in the photovoltaic sector.
Book

Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

TL;DR: The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) as discussed by the authors provides a technically and economically credible alternative concept to present day p-n junction photovoltaic devices, where light is absorbed by a sensitizer, which is anchored to the surface of a wide band semiconductor.
Journal ArticleDOI

In Situ Formation of an Oxygen-Evolving Catalyst in Neutral Water Containing Phosphate and Co2+

TL;DR: A catalyst that forms upon the oxidative polarization of an inert indium tin oxide electrode in phosphate-buffered water containing cobalt (II) ions is reported that not only forms in situ from earth-abundant materials but also operates in neutral water under ambient conditions.
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The paper discusses the potential for higher efficiencies, lower costs, improved scalability, and new functionality in solar energy conversion systems.