American Chemical Society's Weekly...(efficiency solar cells Chemical & Engine...)

Solar energy, once regarded as costly and impractical, is now poised to play a bigger, brighter role in meeting future energy needs due to new materials and processes that offer lower costs and improved efficiencies, according to an article [insert link] scheduled for the Aug. 27 issue of Chemical & Engineering News, ACS weekly newsmagazine. With potential applications ranging from homes to offices to portable electronics, solar energy could soon become a common part of your daily lives.

The magazines cover story, by C&EN senior editor Mitch Jacoby, includes interviews with of the worlds leading solar energy experts. They describe the challenges of tapping into this rich energy source and the new materials and strategies that are emerging from their research.

The materials include semiconductor nanocrystals that can be formed into flexible sheets and networks of nanowires for improved electrical transport. Jacoby also describes new generations of promising yet inexpensive solar cells, including low-cost plastic solar cells based on semiconducting polymers.

Its tough to predict which class of materials and solar cell design will be the winning combination that generates a supply of clean, renewable, and affordable energy plentiful enough to make a significant contribution to the worlds future energy needs, Jacoby writes. The solution may come from new types of devices and novel materials yet to be discovered or from creative ways of using substances already in hand.

ARTICLE #6 EMBARGOED FOR 9 A.M., EASTERN TIME, Aug. 27, 2007
Tapping the Sun: Basic chemistry drives discovery of new low-cost solar cells

This story will be available on Aug. 27 at (http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/85/8535cover.html)

FOR ADVANCE INFORMMATION, CONTACT:
Michael Bernstein
ACS News Serv
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