Parents' bedroom
Did you know ......every hour, more energy from sunlight strikes the Eatrh than is consumed on the planet in a year?
Chemistry, key to renewable energy sources
Today solar electricity provides only on thousandth of the total electricity supply because of current photovoltaic high prices. sunlight is a compelling solution to our need for clean, abundant sources of energy in the future. Modern chemistry will provide ever more sustanaible solutions in this field.
Photovoltaic energy boosted
New generation solar cells use materials composed of texturizers and cleaners, metallizers and designed to improve the cell efficiency and boost further the solar cell yield. Special adhesives ensure the assembly of the solar module back sheet foils.
Even a few tenths of a percent increase in cell efficiency will have dramatic results for the amount of energy produced by sunlight. Such materials and adhesives contribute to the development and the competitiviness of photovoltaic energy.
imagine what a quantum leap in this technology will deliver.
(Materiales EnlightTM y adhesivos ADCOTETM, Rohm and Haas)
Producing photovoltaic electricity
Evatane® technical polymers, which boast outstanding transparency. promote adhesion and effectively protect silicon and electrical circuits in photovoltaic cells. The cells Kynar® PVDF back coating ensures longevity and enhaces their yield.
Evatane® y Kynar®, Arkema
Coconut yarns
A new line of natural and ecological yarns has been derived from coconut shells wasted by the food industry and turned into polyester polymers. these yarns provide effective moisture management, absorb odours and offer UV protection.
But do not forget that biomass can also be a limited resource.
Sinterama and Cocona INC.
Chemistry energizes your day
These are steps forward for wind energy to become cost-efficient
Wind energy with a little help from chemistry
Wind turbines should resist extreme natural forces. Impact modifiers allow to strengthen the adhesives used to assemble wind turnbine blades.
Without impact modifiers the adhesives would become brittle over time and will not fulfill their function anymore. Acrylic impact modifiers support the development of wind energy, the most cost-competitive renewable energy having the largest potential in Europe in the short term..
PARALOID™ EXL impact modifiers, Rohm and Haas
Let the wind blow
A broad range of curing agents, accelerators nad additives support the processing of epoxy resins, like fibre-reinforced composites aimed specifically at the production of rotor blades for wind turbines.
Ever larger rotor blades help modern wind turbines to become increasingly efficient. Rotor spans of more than 100 metersask for exceptionally high-performing materials.
Baxxodur™, BASF
Combining comfort and energy efficiency
Certincoat® window glass coating additives produce energy gains of the order of 30% for heating in winter and air-conditioning in summer. Lacovyl® PVC windows are both attractive and efficient in terms of thermal and sound insulation.
Certincoat®, Lacovyl®, Arkema
Light emitting wallpaper and other sunny tricks
Small particles for big solar energy
Optimizing the effi ciency of solar cells is still a challenge for researchers. New types of photovoltaic cells are being investigated based on cost-effi ciently produced hybrids of nanoparticles and polymers.
Some crystalline semiconductor nanoparticles have the potential to play a major role in this field. Their properties can be adjusted to harvest sunlight more effi ciently. Solar cells based on Baydots combine the advantages of cost-effective polymer solar cells with those of highly effi cient and stable inorganic thin film solar cells.
Baydots®, Bayer
New generation of solar cells coming up
The solar cell market is currently dominated by "classical" solar cells, based on silicon. The new upcoming generation will be based on organic materials and nanoparticles. The cells' energy-conversion is targeted at a minimum of 10 %, with a lifetime of at least 10 years.
The production of the organic materials is not energyintensive, and is therefore more cost-effective. Because of their excellent light-absorption properties, they can be deposited in thin layers even on a fl exible substrate. Since the overall thickness of these layers is strongly reduced compared to that of classical solar cells, organic solar cells have a wider range of applications.
Paint your own solar roof
Solar panels are costly. If we could just paint them on all roofs, the world would have a solution for all its energy needs!
The vision is to coat every piece of steel cladding and roof tile with a «solar cell paint». Organic and nanomaterials, which could be formulated into a paint, are promising candidates to master this challenge of capturing even low level solar radiation, ideal for countries enjoying less sunshine.
Soon walls will help light up your house. Razor-thin plastic sheets emit a pleasant light and save more electricity than conventional energy-saving lamps. Easy on the wallet and good for the climate!