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Power

Cheap Solar Panels Made With An Ion Cannon 395

Posted by Soulskill
from the fresh-from-the-daystrom-institute dept.
MrSeb writes "Twin Creeks, a solar power startup that emerged from hiding today, has developed a way of creating photovoltaic cells that are half the price of today's cheapest cells, and thus within reach of challenging the fossil fuel hegemony. As it stands, almost every solar panel is made by slicing a 200-micrometer-thick (0.2mm) wafer from a block of crystalline silicon. You then add some electrodes, cover it in protective glass, and leave it in a sunny area to generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect. There are two problems with this approach: Much in the same way that sawdust is produced when you slice wood, almost half of the silicon block is wasted when it's cut into 200-micrometer slices; and second, the panels would still function just as well if they were thinner than 200 micrometers, but silicon is brittle and prone to cracking if it's too thin. Using a hydrogen ion particle accelerator, Twin Creeks has managed to create very thin (20-micrometer), flexible photovoltaic cells that can be produced for just 40 cents per watt; around half the cost of conventional solar cells, and a price point that encroaches on standard, mostly-hydrocarbon-derived grid power."

Comment: Not PCI compliant (Score 5, Insightful) 322

by kooky45 (#38212594) Attached to: Android Dev Demonstrates CarrierIQ Phone Logging Software On Video
I believe this rules out all Android devices with CarrerIQ agents from being used to handle payment card numbers. There's no obvious mention on CarrerIQ's website of PCI compliance or how they protect the user's data. It probably also contravenes SOX, HIPAA and and host of other industry regulations. Bye bye lots of commercial use of Android handsets, especially Blackberry.

Comment: Do I want hydrophobic or hydrophilic then? (Score 1) 146

by kooky45 (#35528094) Attached to: Canadian Researchers Develop Permanent Anti-Fog Coating
I cycle and it rains here a lot so I want a hydrophobic coating on my lenses so the rain runs off. But it's also often cold and humid so I don't want fogged lenses and that needs a hydrophilic coating. Which one do I really want, or do I need different coatings on either side of the lenses?

This is for all ill-treated fellows Unborn and unbegot, For them to read when they're in trouble And I am not. -- A. E. Housman

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