When it comes to solar panels, the future is flexible. Vanessa Young discovers how a MacDiarmid project is unlocking the possibilities of a new generation of solar cell technology.
When we imagine solar panels, we think of hard rectangle frames, sitting upright on roofs, or spread out across expanses of deserts.
But imagine flexible, bendy solar panels, supple enough to skin a curved roof, pliable enough to be rolled up and transported easily. Lightweight enough to be a thin film for the roof of a tent. And portable enough to be rolled out to generate power for emergency relief operations, or taken into remote areas.
Printable solar materials that will allow all of this is closer than we think. Victoria University associate professor Justin Hodgkiss, lead researcher in a MacDiarmid Institute project investigating the possibilities presented by ‘printable photovoltaics’, says they will be low cost and could replace silicon as the next generation of photovoltaic (solar energy) materials.
“Silicon cells are getting cheaper but still require a high-temperature, high vacuum manufacturing process. For solar energy to be really accessible it needs to be much cheaper and faster to manufacture.”
He says these printable semiconductors, including polymers and nanoparticles, can potentially be manufactured on a roll, cutting production costs.
“Their ease of transport and light weight also mean it is feasible for these to be manufactured in New Zealand and shipped anywhere in the world.”
New generation flexible solar cell material. Photo: Eight19 Ltd
Shiny is the enemy of good
When we see photos of those bright shiny swathes of solar farms, we don’t automatically think of their shininess as a problem. But Hodgkiss says an ideal solar panel would look black.
“Every bit of light that reflects off a solar panel is light not transformed into energy. When no light bounces off it means all visible light is getting in.”
This is where nanotechnology comes in. He compares the idea to radio antennae on the roof of a building.
“When you see large antennae on the top of buildings, their size is related to the radio frequencies they’re tracking. Radio waves are of the order of metres, so the antenna discs are this size. But optical wavelengths are in the order of hundreds of nanometres.”
He says the MacDiarmid teams working on this are effectively creating tiny antennae that capture light and can direct it inside the solar panels.
“We’re making nano-patterns that make sure that light gets in and is not bounced away, and that capture and focus the light waves directly where it is needed in the solar panels.”
Continue to read the full article here published by The Spinoff on a MacDiarmid Institute Project a MacDiarmid Institute Project || October 3, 2017 |||
China and the United States’ cooperation in applying sanctions against North Korea does not promise a new era of cooperation around increasingly entwined economic and security issues, new research led by Victoria University of Wellington academics has concluded.
“We’re seeing much more competition than cooperation” says Robert Ayson, Victoria’s Professor of Strategic Studies and author of a study published by a prestigious Australian National University (ANU) think-tank.
“Our new report, The Economics-Security Nexus Under Trump and Xi: Policy Implications for Asia-Pacific Countries, finds that New Zealand and its regional partners should expect less reassurance and more pressure,” says Professor Ayson.
“President Trump has withdrawn the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership process and is threatening to exit the free trade agreement with South Korea, a leading US security ally. And China has signalled to New Zealand, Australia and other regional countries that they need to consider the potential trade implications of taking a critical stance on the South China Sea. The days of separating our economic and security interests are well and truly over.”
The new study was kick-started by a symposium hosted by Victoria’s Centre for Strategic Studies, which brought together leading scholars from Victoria, the ANU and Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.
Associate Professor David Capie, the Centre’s Director, says the symposium was an opportunity to build strong links with some of Victoria’s most important capital city university connections. “We were also thrilled with the participation of senior officials from a range of government agencies.”
Building deeper connections with scholars in the region and with the official community is a strong focus for Victoria.
“This is exactly what we had in mind when we established ‘Enabling our Asia-Pacific trading nation’ as one of Victoria’s eight areas of academic distinctiveness and strength,” says Professor Siah Hwee Ang, Victoria’s Chair in Business in Asia and Chair of the team leading this area of research collaboration.
“We’ve created research connections across the University that can bring new combinations of expertise to deal with knotty interdisciplinary questions. And we’re leading the way in outlining the policy options governments need to consider.”
That’s where the next stage of Professor Ayson’s work will head.
“We knew none of the options for governments would be easy” he says, “but we think we’ve identified some of the most fruitful ways ahead. It’s no longer about finding our comfort zone between the US and China, because that doesn’t exist. For New Zealand, we think this means working even more closely with some of our regional partners, including Australia and Singapore, to make sure none of us is alone when we face future economic and security pressures from the big powers.”
| A Victoria University release || October 3, 2017 |||
Ceva Logistics is celebrating two anniversaries in Australia this month, marking ten years of operations as Ceva Logistics, and the first anniversary of its new Australasian headquarters in Truganina, Victoria.
Ceva was born in Australia from the merger of Australian transport company, Thomas Nationwide Transport (TNT), and Eagle Global Logistics in August 2007.
Ceva is celebrating the milestone achievements with customers and staff across the country, starting with a staff event at Truganina hosted by Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand, Carlos Velez Rodriguez.
“We are delighted to be able to celebrate two landmark achievements at the same time with our colleagues and customers,” said Velez Rodriguez.
“I’d particularly like to pay tribute to our staff, be they working at this site or others in the Australia & New Zealand cluster, for their dedication and hard work in making this company the success it is today. A number of them have been with us for many more than the ten years we are marking today and we salute them all.”
| A L&MH release || October 3, 2017 |||
Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242