In a general meaning a Nano flake is a flake (that is, an uneven piece of material with one dimension substantially smaller than the other two) with at least one nanometric dimension (that is, between 1 and 100 nm). A flake is not necessarily perfectly flat but it is characterized by a plate-like form or structure. There are nanoflakes of all sorts of materials. In a more restricted meaning, in the context of solar energy, Nano flakes are a type of

semiconductor A semiconductor is a material which has an electrical resistivity and conductivity, electrical conductivity value falling between that of a electrical conductor, conductor, such as copper, and an insulator (electricity), insulator, such as glas ...

that has potential for solar energy creation as the product itself is only in the prototype phase. With its

crystalline structure In crystallography, crystal structure is a description of the ordered arrangement of atoms, ions or molecules in a crystalline material. Ordered structures occur from the intrinsic nature of the constituent particles to form symmetric patterns th ...

the crystals are able to absorb light and harvest 30 percent of solar energy directed at its surface.

Structure

Nano flakes have a structure that contains tiny crystals in which millions of these crystals could fit into a single square centimeter. The tiny crystals absorb the sunlight and use the solar energy to convert it to electricity. This perfect crystalline structure is why this product can revolutionize solar energy. The large surface to volume ratio and the texture of the surface of this nano structure provides a larger absorption rate of the sun's light energy. Also researchers are working on trying to combine it with different semiconducting materials since the usual requirements of a need for a similar crystal structure for the carrier substrate is less stressed in the Nano flakes structure. The carrier substrate in the Nano flakes purpose is to permit growth of the nano structures and works as a contact for the Nano structures when they are actively absorbing the sun's energy.

Purpose

Solar energy obtained from the Nano flakes can help benefit in a couple of ways. Nano flakes can potentially help lower the cost of solar energy. Also since more solar energy can theoretically be obtained from Nano flakes, their use can potentially keep the earth's environment cleaner by reducing the need for fossil fuels.

Cost

The high cost of solar energy stems from the difficulty of converting the solar energy into electricity for use, and less than 1 percent of the world's electricity comes from the sun because of this process. Nano flakes can potentially help with the economic issues of solar energy by lowering the cost due to an easier process and a better outcome of energy. Nano flake technology can potentially make it easier to convert solar energy into electricity estimated at twice the amount that today's

solar cell A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell, is an electronic device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect, which is a physical and chemical phenomenon.

s can harvest. This new technology can also potentially lower the cost of solar energy because it allows for a reduction in expensive semiconducting

silicon Silicon is a chemical element with the symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic luster, and is a tetravalent metalloid and semiconductor. It is a member of group 14 in the periodic tab ...

. Energy loss is also potentially reduced with a shorter distance of the solar energy transportation across smaller Nano flakes.

Environment

Nano flake technology can also help keep the environment cleaner as the sun as the source it produces clean pure

sustainable energy Energy is sustainable if it "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". Most definitions of sustainable energy include considerations of environmental aspects such as greenh ...

that can be converted into electricity. While fossil fuel is the primary energy source for electricity, using solar energy obtained from Nano flakes will lower dependence on fossil fuels. When fossil fuels are burned for use they release a toxic gas which has a huge impact on earth's pollution. Also the process of obtaining these fossil fuels is not good for the environment, whether it be mining for coal, drilling for oil, or

hydraulic fracturing Fracking (also known as hydraulic fracturing, hydrofracturing, or hydrofracking) is a well stimulation technique involving the fracturing of bedrock formations by a pressurized liquid. The process involves the high-pressure injection of "frack ...

of the earth's surface to reach the oil and gas.

Research

One researcher working on Nano flake technology is Dr. Martin Aagesen at the

Niels Bohr Institute The Niels Bohr Institute (Danish: ''Niels Bohr Institutet'') is a research institute of the University of Copenhagen. The research of the institute spans astronomy, geophysics, nanotechnology, particle physics, quantum mechanics and biophysics. ...

at the

University of Copenhagen The University of Copenhagen ( da, Københavns Universitet, KU) is a prestigious public university, public research university in Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the second-oldest university in ...

, who holds a PhD from the Nano Science Center. Aagesen discovered and published information about the science of Nano flakes in 2007. Aagesen is Chief Executive Officer of SunFlake, launched from the Nano Science Center. Funding for Nano flake science came from Danish Venture Capital fund SEED capital and University of Copenhagen.

References