Boosting Solar Cell Efficiency

Boosting Solar Cell Efficiency Boosting Solar Cell Efficiency Boosting Solar Cell EfficiencyUniversity of Minnesota engineers have added an innovative feature to a standard solar-cell design that boosts its electricity-generating potential by up to 26%. This remarkable improvement may help researchers push the record power conversion efficiencies of dye-sensitized solar cells beyond 12%.Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are made from titanium dioxide (TiO2), an affordable compound that makes ansicht solar cells less expensive than traditional silicon solar cells. A big reason for the lower efficiency of DSSCs compared to other solar cells is that they do not capture enough infrared light from the electromagnetic spectrum.Eray S. Aydil, professor of chemical engineering and materials science at the University of Minnesota, and then-graduate student Bin Liu (now a professor of engineering at Nanyang Technological University at Singapore), investigated how the integration of layers of nanometer-sized and micrometer-sized particles into the DSSC design impacts cell performance. They theorized that the addition of these particles would extend the distance the light travels within the cell, thereby converting mora infrared spectrum into electricity.Professor Eray Aydils group is applying nanotechnology to produce lower-cost, high-efficiency solar cells. Image University of Minnesota.Experimental Cell DesignThe key component in a DSSC is the photoanode, which is made by depositing a porous, nanocrystalline titanium oxide (TiO2) film on a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) glass. A layer of a photoactive dye is then adsorbed on the TiO2 surfaces to absorb light and generate photoexcited electrons.Dye-sensitized solar cells make use of excitation of a dye adsorbed on titanium dioxide or a pigment to generate electricity, says Aydil. We engineered the pigment both at the nanometer and micrometer scales to trap more light onto the pigment.Photoanodes were assembled that included alternating layers of both micrometer-sized and nanometer-sized TiO2 nanoparticles and porous TiO2 microspheres. A two-step hydrothermal method was developed for synthesizing the TiO2 microspheres. These additional surfaces provided more internal surface area, which increased light scattering.The micrometer-scale microspheres with nanometer pores were placed between layers of nanoscale particles. The spheres act like the bumpers on a pinball machine, disrupting the light path and causing photons to bounce around before eventually making their way through the cellthereby traveling a greater distance and allowing the solar cell to absorb more of the light.Various combinations of microsphere layers and nanoparticle layers were tested as photoanodes. The highest power conversion efficiencies resulted from cells that consisted of multiple layers of microspheres and nanoparticles, compared to single-layer cells. This is thought to be due to enhanced light scattering by the porous TiO2 microspheres. Each time the photon interacts with a sphere, a small charge is produced. The interfaces between the layers also help enhance the efficiency by acting like mirrors, keeping the light inside the solar cell where it can be converted to electricity.Moving ForwardIncorporating alternating layers of nanoparticles and microspheres in dye-sensitized solar cells can increase efficiency up to 26%. This approach for increasing light-harvesting efficiency can be easily integrated into current commercial DSSCs, as well as opening up more research possibilities for DSSC solar cells. For example, Liu, at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, is exploring how to use these structures in photocatalysis and hydrogen generation by water splitting. He is also trying to engineer these titanium dioxide nanostructures to absorb light in the visible spectrum, without the need for dye.While we were successful in trapping more light using these layered structures, whether these l ayers are mechanically robust and strong enough to survive the beating solar cells take over many years is an important and unanswered question, says Aydil. I think exploring the limits of these layers, and how to make them stronger and adhere better, are key issues for mechanical engineers in the future. Developing new low-cost alternatives to traditional silicon solar cells is gaining importance because reducing the cost of silicon solar cells is becoming increasingly more difficult.Mark Crawford is an independent writer. For Further DiscussionDye-sensitized solar cells make use of excitation of a dye adsorbed on titanium dioxide or a pigment to generate electricity.Prof. Eray S. Aydil, University of Minnesota

More College Students Are Pursuing Science and Technology Degrees

More College Students Are Pursuing Science and Technology DegreesMore College Students Are Pursuing Science and Technology DegreesMore than ever before, our economy is driven by science and technologyand college students are responding with resounding enthusiasm. Welooked at data from mora than2000 U.S. universitiesover the past two decades and found that degrees in science and tech have reached an all-time high.From 1992 to 2014, U.S. college students graduatedwith degrees spanningmore than 60 majors. We grouped these into three categoriessocial science, humanities, and science technologyand discovered some interestingtrends.The percentage of majors in the humanities (as a proportion of all majors) remained steady, averaging23.7 percent of all degrees conferred between 1992 and 2014. As shown in the above graph, there was a slight increase in humanities majors between 2003 and 2011, but the highest deviation was only 2.6 percentage points from the overall average.A more distinct ch ange occurred in the social sciences, themost popular category over the longest period of our study. Majors in this category declined from a peak of44.3 percent in 1992 to an all-time low of 35.8 percent in 2014.Despite this downward trend, social sciences remained the dominant area of study until 2012, when it was edged out by science technology majors for the first time in 19 years.Science and tech majors reached an all-time high in 2012and continued to increase through 2014 (and quite possibly, to present day). A closer look at the graph reveals two notable periods of growth one begins in 1994, the other in 2011. Is it coincidence or correlation thatthese two periodscoincidewith the dot-com and tech bubblesin recent history? We thinkits correlated.So we dug deeper by looking at computer science degrees (a sub-set of science and tech)conferred at Stanford University, located withinthe epicenterof the technology industry. We discovered that computer science trends at Stanford (see graph below) were similar to that of science and tech (see graph above). In fact, the computer science trends at Stanford were even more pronounced.Perhaps ourmost surprising finding came when we looked at the gender breakdown of computer science majors. Since the dot-com boom in 2000, the percentage of women graduating in computer science declined and never really picked back up despite the increasingnumber of computer science graduates.In a time where research by the Department of Labor in2012 showedwomenmakingup only 26 percent of the computing workforce, this trend can be concerning.When reviewing trends over the past two decades, its clear that science and technology degrees have become all the rage. Social science degrees still rank high in popularity, but are waning. And humanities degrees, though relatively steady through the years, look like theyre taking a dive. As the economy develops, college students flock towards degrees most useful in todays world. After all, money t alks.Stay tuned as we take a deeper look into these three categories of degrees over the next few weeks.

Best Career Advice from Michelle Obama, Jeff Bezos more

Best Career Advice from Michelle Obama, Jeff Bezos moreBest Career Advice from Michelle Obama, Jeff Bezos more 2018 was quite a year. Therbeie was no shortage of headline-making moments or reasons to grab your smartphone to instantly like, share or comment. Amongst the years highs were also some very defining moments for industry titans and influential people. And along with that, pivotal moments for everyday people like you and me. Career highs and professional opportunities abounded.Looking back, we took stock of some of the best career advice of the year. Here are five people who share five gems of advice that will inspire us today and into 2019.In a recent shareholder letter , Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos borrow down two basic kinds of decisions you can make those that are easy to reverse and those that are nearly impossible to reverse. He advises notlage to be paralyzed by doubt, but to clearly evaluate whats in front of you.Some decisions are consequential and irr eversible or nearly irreversible - one-way doors - and these decisions must be made methodically, carefully, slowly, with great deliberation and consultation. If you walk through and dont like what you see on the other side, you cant get back to where you were before. We can call these Type 1 decisions, Bezos writes.But most decisions arent like that - they are changeable, reversible - theyre two-way doors. If youve made a sub-optimal Type 2 decision, you dont have to live with the consequences for that long. You can reopen the door and go back through. Type 2 decisions can and should be made quickly by high judgment individuals or small groups.As organizations get larger, there seems to be a tendency to use the heavyweight Type 1 decision-making process on most decisions, including many Type 2 decisions. The end result of this is slowness, unthoughtful risk aversion, failure to experiment sufficiently, and consequently diminished invention. Well have to figure out how to fight that tendency.At the first-ever Global Citizen Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa in December, Oprah Winfrey spoke to thousands on what would have been Nelson Mandelas 100th birthday. While speaking about the legacy of the former South African President and activist, Oprah shared a tidbit that we can all apply to our careers.In her speech, she said , Let me tell you, no matter whats going down in your life, theres always somebody out there whos not as blessed as you have been.Oprah continued, If you do even one small thing every day, youll be building your own legacy. Because as Maya Angelou taught me Your legacy isnt some big grand gesture thats waiting to happen, your legacy is every life you touch. So Ive been fortunate to witness up close and personal that when you help someone else, your blessings return to you 10 times.Former First Lady Michelle Obama has a track record that anyone would be envious of Princeton University undergrad, Harvard Law School, jobs in corporate l aw and public service, wife, mother, and, of course, First Lady. And while it may seem like her path has been a straight one, she insists in her new book Becoming that it doesnt have to be.In the book, I take you on the journey of who that little striving star-getter became, which is what a lot of hard-driving kids become a box checker, Obama tells Oprah Winfrey in an interview. Get good grades check. Apply to the best schools, get into Princeton check. I wasnt a swerver. I wasnt somebody that was going to take risks, she says.However, Obama admits she wasnt happy. I narrowed myself to being this thing I thought I should be. It took loss- losses in my life that made me think, Have you ever stopped to think about who you wanted to be? And I realized I had not. I was sitting on the 47th floor of an office building, going over cases and writing memos. I was like, I cant do this for the rest of my life. I cant sit in a room and look at documents.So what changed? Barack Obama taught me how to swerve, admitted the First Lady. Winfrey chimes in, What I loved about it is, it says to every person reading the book You have the right to change your mind.When youre a more seasoned professional, you have experienced both the ups and the downs of professional life. You may have been laid off, fired, missed out on a promotion or made a seemingly career-defining mistake. However, Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu insists that fear should not paralyze you forever.Before directing the box-office hit, Chu directed the failed neugestaltung of 2015s Jem and the Holograms . It scored a 19% on Rotten Tomatoes and was pulled from theaters early. Getting back into the directors chair on the book-to-screen adaptation of the Kevin Kwan hit was daunting, needless to say.The fear of doing Jem again was definitely present, he said . I always told myself after Jem, I dont want fear to change my choices. Fear is a destruction of creativity. Any time I had a fear about this movie I would go to that idea, dont let Jem determine your choices here. You were destined to be here and do this movie.Three simple words pack a lot of punch when delivered by one of the wealthiest and most successful investors in the world. Warren Buffet shared this quick, but meaningful, insight with a start-up co-founder when asked for the advice hed give to new graduates about to enter the workplace.Buffet responded Invest in yourself.The chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway then continued, The one easy way to become worth 50 percent more than you are now at least is to hone your communication skills - both written and verbal. If you cant communicate, its like winking at a girl in the dark - nothing happens. You can have all the brainpower in the world but you have to be able to transmit it. And the transmission is communication.Buffetts advice speaks volumes. Investing in yourself and in your communication abilities can take you from 0 to 100 instantly. You will be able to deli ver a better elevator pitch, answer an interview question perfectly, pitch an idea to an investor, and make the case for a raise or promotion.Take time today to internalize the advice from seasoned pros and make tomorrow your best day ever

5 Essential Tips for Video and Skype Interviews

5 Essential Tips for Video and Skype Interviews5 Essential Tips for Video and Skype InterviewsMany employers and recruiters now use video interviews. Sometimes video interviews are brief, timed recordings that ask candidates to answer general interview questions, and sometimes these are video meetings using Skype or other platforms. Its important to remember that both types of video interviews are just as important in-person interviews, and the following tips will help you make sure your bases are covered.1. Dress professionally.Dress like you were interviewing in person. Make sure that your camera is focused on your waist up, so plan your outfit accordingly.2. Choose a drehort wisely.Make sure you have picked a location for the video interview without distractions both for yourself and your interviewer. Choose somewhere quiet and well lit.3. Check your technology ahead of time.Make sure you can login to all systems and all audio and video are functioning properly. Test your setup wi th a friend the day before your interview to familiarize yourself with the process. Remember to also charge or bring chargers with you for your devices, just in case. Just before the interview, close out of any programs that you dont need open or that could be distracting during the interview.4. Focus on the camera, not the screen.During your interview, make sure that your focus is on the camera and not your screen. In order to make eye contact, youll want to look at the camera during the interview rather than paying attention to the interviewer or yourself on the screen. This can be difficult if you arent used to video as a method of communication, so this might be something to practice prior to the interview with a friend as well. Like you would in an in-person interview, take note of your body language as well. Dont close yourself off. Remain calm, confident, and friendly.5. Use notes.Take advantage of the video format and use notes. Before your interview, youll be doing research on the company, so jot down things about the company that might be good to bring up in your interview. You might also jot down questions you might want to ask during your interviews. But dont rely on your notes as though they were a script. Only use them to help keep you stay on task or if you get nervous.

The Appeal of Reddit Resume Help

The Appeal of Reddit Resume Help Top Choices of Reddit Resume Help Its only our Company which uses your personal data to supply the best-personalized support. If you see a service we havent evaluated, dont hesitate to drop us a message and we are going to look it over whenever possible. You save plenty of time, as our online helpers are prepared to assist you succeed with an amazing application document. Your resume needs to make them obvious. The Battle Over Reddit Resume Help and How to Win It You definitely dont wish to price yourself from a job chance, but you dont wish to sell yourself short either. The last price of the buchen is dependent on several elements. Its important to employ a service which provides you a wonderful price for top quality. The service of Resumarea is given to clients at a sensible price that matches the value of your self-presentation. It is a 1-2 punch thats ensured to awe businesses. When you would like to find the best resume help, you may simply follow our lead. So as to continue to keep our clients satisfied, if we must walk an excess mile, wed happily to do so with no sweat They get helpful recommendations and tips according to their professional life. Theres notlage any way around it everyone messes up at work sooner or later. If you opt to create the choice on your own, youre risking a lot. You need assistance with making a resume. The best method to understand it is to take a look at examples. Google Docs exports documents in many formats, making it simple to submit the proper file type to a hiring manager. Creating a Google account is completely free and takes just a couple of seconds. If youre not acquainted with using Google Docs, the formatting features are easy to use. Creating Resume here is as easy as creating an on-line profile. 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Spring Clean Your Office - Spark Hire

Spring Clean Your Office - Spark HireAccording to a recent survey, 57% of people admitted to judging a co-worker based on the cleanliness of his/her office. I know Im guilty (of both the judging and the messiness). So, since wed all rather be judged on the quality of our work, lets talk about some spring cleaning tips for the officeideas to de-clutter both individual offices and your company premises as a whole.Anyone organizing a workspace should begin by asking themselves, What do I want from my office space, and is it meeting my needs? So says organization expert Peter Walsh. Efforts to de-clutter wont do any good if the space encourages people to be messy. Identify distributionspolitiks that tend to get messy very quickly. Does mail pile up quickly on your desk, or on the counter? Reclaim your horizontal surfaces by designating a specific place for everything that clutters up your space. Put the place in a convenient location for what the thing is. For example, if you have to wal k all the way across your office to retrieve client files, of course theyre going to pile up on your desk. Sometimes theres only so much you can do about this, but do your best to make adjustments where you can to de-clutter your office.Do you feel that you dont need spring cleaning tips so much as a spring cleaning box of matches? I joke. Spring is a great time for tackling those files from six years ago that seem to be bursting out of the cabinets. Begin your organizing by setting a goal for the process. Decide which parts of your office could benefit from some spring cleaning tips, and commit to organizing those areas first. The second best advice I can give ask for some help. Most efforts to clean out files arent rocket scienceeven a new hire can follow a list of save this, pitch that, scan that. Remember, converting to digital as much as possible will save future headaches like this. Speaking ofIn addition to physical workspace, it is important to de-clutter digital workspace. A desktop full of icons, or an overflowing emaille inbox can be just as stressful (and probably judgment-worthy) as physical clutter. Spring cleaning tips for organizing your digital space include organize your email inbox by folders, keep your computer desktop icons to a minimum, and set aside one afternoon every three months for organizing (read deleting) old files that you dont need. If you are concerned about losing data, talk to your IT department about archiving your files in a safe space that is not your desktop.What spring cleaning tips do you have for the office? Lets get some good ideas because the idea people shouldnt have to do any of the heavy lifting. Right? Right?IMAGECourtesyof Flickr byZepfanman.com