Introduction
Nanoparticles, also identified as ultrafine particles, refer to matter particles with a diameter of between 1 and 100 nm (nanometers). They have specific characteristics such as their inner structure, shape, surface characteristics, and size, which render them different from other materials, including spatial confinement, high surface energy, and various surface atoms. The above-mentioned innovation has been linked to significant technological advancements in specialties such as medicine and engineering. This paper highlights the application of nanoparticles in the development of nanostructured solar cells and their specific properties.
Application and Its Significance
The application of interest in this write-up is the nanostructured solar cell, an advancement from the traditional silicon-based solar cells. This innovation has an enormous significance and relevance to the modern world due to its efficiency in performance and low costs. According to Kumar et al. (2020), nanostructured solar cells have the advantage of energy conservation, unlike the conventional silicon-based solar cells, which have been associated with high energy losses. Nanotechnology-oriented solar cells boost the electricity generation rate from solar energy (Kumar et al., 2020). Scientists are currently investing financial resources and time developing and advancing nanostructured solar-cells due to their low-cost profile in the production process and improved operability.
The use of silicon material in the manufacturing of traditional solar cells rendered them expensive, especially with regard to installation and maintenance. Contrarily, nano-based solar cells utilize inexpensive nano-materials characterized by a higher output than the typical ones. Concerning its impact on the environment, nanostructured solar cells have been associated with minimal pollution rates due to their energy conservation aspect compared to the existing or conventional cells used in solar enhancement. As indicated earlier, the above-mentioned technology can deliver on these fonts as they are less expensive and highly efficient.
The Functioning of the Application
The nanostructured solar cells operate on the principle of nano-technology and nano-particles, whereby thin-layered nano-materials are applied to the solar cells’ surfaces. Energy efficiency linked to nano-based solar cells emerges from three crucial functional strategies. In the first approach, multiple reflections generated from the thin films’ surfaces create an effective or reliable optical path used in the absorption procedure, thereby enhancing its thickness in comparison to the existing film (Kumar et al., 2020). In the second phase, electrons emerging from the actions of light coupled with energy holes ordinarily cover a shorter distance due to the nano-particles’ activities (Kumar et al., 2020). This consequently minimizes the energy losses that may arise from the recombination processes.
During the ultimate phase, nano-particles’ capacity, which varies in size depending on their manipulation level, facilitates the adjustment of the width of energy-gap layers during its operation. One primary advantage of this entire process is that it enhances nano-particles’ absorbent potential. The nanostructured solar cells absorb the energy bands from sunlight at minimal losses due to the variability of nano-particles’ size (Kumar et al., 2020). During this process, high-frequency and low-frequency light electrons are converted to electricity without recording energy losses through heat energy (Kumar et al., 2020). In conventional solar cells, the light energy from ultra-violet radiation is lost since the cells do not adjust to the appropriate absorbent levels.
Specific Properties of the Nano-Particle
One primary property associated with nano-particles is that they have a significantly small or reduced width. Furthermore, their atoms usually occupy the surfaces and depart from the interiors, and this, according to Kumar et al. (2020), presents enormous advantages to the functioning of nano-based solar cells. According to Kumar et al. (2020), the dominant nano-particle disposition is controlled by the activities on the surface section. Nano-particles have nano-crystal diameters that help enhance the positioning of the energy-electron positions (levels) by reducing the distance or thickness (Kumar et al., 2020). This triggers a continuous energy band, which consequently boosts the conversion rate of solar energy to electricity at minimal losses through the nano-particles’ activities within the solar cells. These aspects present nano-structured solar cells as a novel application. It is an advancement from the expensive and lowly efficient traditional silicon-based solar cells.
Conclusion
Nanoparticles have specific properties such as their inner structure, shape, surface characteristics, and size, which render them different from other materials. Nanostructured solar cells have an enormous significance and relevance to the modern world due to their performance efficiency and low costs. This nano-based innovation has an advantage over silicon-based solar cells due to its ability to conserve energy. They operate on the principle of nanotechnology and nanoparticles, whereby thin-layered nano-materials are applied to the solar cells’ surfaces.
Reference
Kumar, R., Sundararaju, K., Ishwarya, S., & Senthil K. R. (2020). Improvement in the performance of solar cells through the deposition of nano particles for avoiding surface reflections. Research Journal of Chemistry and Environment, 24(1), 1-5. Web.