News briefs

I haven't got any essays ready, but two updates couldn't wait:
In the three-way race between conventional semiconductor PV, dye-activated titanium dioxide and organic polymers, the organics may have just found a performance-enhancing drug:  semiconductor nanoparticles (Hat tip:  Slashdot).  Peter Peumans is quoted as saying that conversion efficiency may reach 30%, compared to today's 6%.  (If even 15% is achieved, the ~500 quads of sunlight falling on the impermeable area of the USA could potentially yield ~75 quads of electricity.  I believe that most of the work currently done in the USA with oil, coal and natural gas could be replaced by 75 quads of electricity with plenty left over.)

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In an e-mail communication from R.Martin Roscheisen of Nanosolar, I was informed that the numbers I posted in Out of left field were "not quite correct".  I responded with a request for more accurate data to post.  I've not yet heard back from anyone, but I will attempt to update everything affected when I get a response.

  ¶ 1/10/2005 11:18:00 PM