
Certain materials, generally metal oxides, can sustain the unassisted photo-electrolysis of water into H2 and O2. The energy contained in the photons that are absorbed by these materials can in many cases be efficiently converted into energy stored into the chemical fuels produced by the photo-electrolysis system. However, these materials have optical absorption thresholds (band gaps) that are too large to permit effective absorption of the visible and infrared portions of the solar spectrum, thereby wasting a large fraction of the incident solar energy and yielding overall energy conversion efficiencies of o 1%. Modification of metal oxide materials has been claimed to be much more promising, with a modified TiO 2 photo-anode yielding 8% efficiency in the photo-assisted splitting of water into H2 and O2 . (more…)
Several molecular systems have been constructed that mimic various aspects of photosynthesis. Two of these utilize molecular system ...
The basic processes that occur in such a system are well understood. The semiconductor electrode efficiently absorbs light, produci ...
The issues of hydrogen storage run through the hydrogen production, hydrogen transport, supply and demand for end use of hydrog ...
Hydrogen has many applications when it comes to fuel. It can be used both in internal combustion engines and hydrogen fuel cells. ...
All of today’s hydrogen conversion products, demonstration models, and prototypes possess some deficiencies; they cannot yet pr ...
The global cycling of carbon involves both biological and physical processes. Only the biological components are discussed here. Plants and other photosynthetic organisms assimilate CO2 and eventually convert the CO2 to simple sugars trough sugar extraction fermentation. From simple sugars, plants synthesize a variety of compounds and store them in the form of plant tissue. (more…)
The global carbon cycle involves both biological and physical processes. Only the biological components are discussed here. Pla ...
The flux of carbon among terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric pools is at least partially controlled by photosynthetic process ...
The accumulation of carbon within a forest growth cycle can be considered in four stages. The initial establishment stage involves ...
Reductions in carbon intensity, C/E, the carbon emitted per unit of energy generated, reflect the degree to which societies decarbo ...
It is of interest to examine potential sources of greenhouse gases sources or atmospheric CO2 by analysis of the global distrib ...

In the mid-1880s, Charles Fritts built the first solar cell formed by selenium coated with a thin layer of gold and with an energy efficiency of 1%. However, it was not until 1954 that Bell Labs discovered accidentally that would be the first commercial solar cell, with silicon as the base. (more…)
So-called thin-film photovoltaic devices are usually based on mixtures of elements other than silicon — most notably copper ind ...
Today, photovoltaic cells only contribute a small proportion (approximately 0.04 percent) of total electricity in the United St ...
So you're finally tired of those exorbitant electricity bills, or, you're catching onto a "greener" way of life. Either way, solar ...
The broad range of home solar energy systems are mostly known as Photovoltaic Systems (PV) or Thin Film Solar Technology. The s ...
Some people may doubt about the ability of these alternative power sources - to much like science fiction they may say. But the ...

The global carbon cycle involves both biological and physical processes. Only the biological components are discussed here. Plants and other photosynthetic organisms assimilate CO2 and eventually convert the CO2 to simple sugars. From simple sugars, (more…)
The global cycling of carbon involves both biological and physical processes. Only the biological components are discussed here. Pl ...
The flux of carbon among terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric pools is at least partially controlled by photosynthetic process ...
The accumulation of carbon within a forest growth cycle can be considered in four stages. The initial establishment stage involves ...
Reductions in carbon intensity, C/E, the carbon emitted per unit of energy generated, reflect the degree to which societies decarbo ...
To date, most discussion and research relating to the various of biomass role in mitigating CO2 emissions has been focused around i ...