A significant improvement in efficiency is achieved for porphyrin (YD2-o-C8) based dye-sensitized solar cells, coupled with [Co(bpy)3] 3+/2+ mediator electrolyte. However, the poison of the counter electrode (CE) by the [Co(bpy)3] 3+/2+ mediator remains a significant barrier to producing a reliable high-performance device. In this paper, nitrogen-doped graphene nanosheets (NG) are produced usin...

Neutron reactions are responsible for the formation of the elements heavier than iron. The corresponding scenarios relate to the Heand Cburning phases of stellar evolution (s process) and to supernova explosions (r and p processes). The s process, which is characterized by low neutron densities, operates in or near the valley of β-stability and has produced about half of the elemental abundance...

We report results from EISCAT and MERLIN observations of radio scintillation during a solar eruptive event in May 2005. Anomalous increases in signal strength detected at sites more than 2000 km apart are shown to arise from the detection of a strong coronal radio burst in the distant off-axis response of the MERLIN and EISCAT antennas. These observations show that EISCAT is capable of detectin...

On 1 November 1948 the Radio Astronomy Group within the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s Division of Radiophysics observed a partial solar eclipse on a range of radio frequencies at three different sites within Australia. These observations helped establish Australia’s reputation as a leader in solar radio astronomy. A second partial eclipse occurred on 22 October ...

Parabolic concentrator mirrors are an important component of many solar energy systems, particularly solar mirror collectors. Precision parabolic mirrors are expensive to fabricate and to transport. Here, a new concept for designing and fabricating precision parabolic mirrors is presented. The mirror is formed from a thin flat very flexible metal sheet with a highly reflective surface. Attached...

Solar cells based on organic-inorganic halide perovskites have recently been proven to be remarkably efficient. However, they exhibit hysteresis in their current-voltage curves, and their stability in the presence of water is problematic. Both issues are possibly related to a diffusion of defects in the perovskite material. By using first-principles calculations based on density functional theo...

-The paper presents the viability of domestic standalone Photovoltaic (PV) hybrid systems in Indian rural areas. The standalone supply system powered by single nonconventional sources such as solar, wind turbines or tidal face unpopularity due to the inconsistency and undependable variance in their source throughout the day/year. The above drawbacks can be addressed by combining minimum of two ...

Iron pyrite, one of the phases in the FeS2 system, is a promising semiconductor for use in solar cell applications due to its earth-abundance, high absorption coefficient, and suitable bandgap. However, currently the efficiency of iron pyrite solar cell device does not exceed 3% [1]. Many studies attempted to understand the cause of the low open-circuit voltage in pyrite devices. Some studies s...

A new radio spectrometer, CALLISTO, is presented. It is a dual-channel frequency-agile receiver based on commercially available consumer electronics. Its major characteristic is the low price for hardware and software, and the short assembly time, both two or more orders of magnitude below existing spectrometers. The instrument is sensitive at the physical limit and extremely stable. The total ...

[1] We explore a method for inferring solar EUV flux, atmospheric composition and wind using ionospheric electron density Ne profile measurements. Incoherent scatter radar data from Millstone Hill and Shigaraki measured on October 5, 1989 are assimilated into a theoretical model whose driving forces, solar EUV flux, exosphere temperature Tex, and meridional wind, are adjustable. Adjustments are...