EXCURSION TO FRAUNHOFER CSP: Silicon Solar Cells Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP – 25.11.2019 Specialized in modules for specific photovoltaic applications, Sebastian Schindler showed us lightweight modules to be used in buildings (BIPV – Building Integrated Photovoltaics) or in mobile applications (VIPV- Vehicle Integrated Photovoltaics). Thanks to Sebastian Schindler for the insights and guided …
Author Archives: Johanna Denecke
EXCURSION TO MATERIAL-ARCHIV & MUSEUM FÜR GESTALTUNG ZÜRICH
EXCURSION TO MATERIAL-ARCHIV & MUSEUM FÜR GESTALTUNG ZÜRICH Zurich / Switzerland 23.9.2019 Material-Archiv Franziska Müller-Reissmann runs the material library at ZHdK (Zürich College of the Arts), which is part of the Material-Archiv network. The space encourages the multi-sensory exploration of a multitude of different material samples while also inspiring critical discussions on ecological, moral and …
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EXCURSION TO EMPA: PECs
EXCURSION TO EMPA: PECs Laboratory for High Performance Ceramics in Dübendorf / Switzerland – 23.9.2019 Artur Braun, a scientist working for EMPA, invented PECs (photoelectrochemical cells) to produce hydrogen. These solar cells use iron-dioxide as a catalyst for splitting water to gain hydrogen. The obtained hydrogen can then for example be used for fueling cars …
EXCURSION TO EMPA: LABORATORY FOR THIN FILMS AND PHOTOVOLTAICS
EXCURSION TO EMPA: LABORATORY FOR THIN FILMS AND PHOTOVOLTAICS a laboratory at EMPA in Dübendorf / Switzerland – 23.9.2019 The department of thin films and photovoltaics at EMPA deals with the most recent technologies of solar cells – namely the CIGS (copper-indium-gallium-selenide) and perovskite solar cells. Special about these solar cells is their very thin …
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EXCURSION TO EMPA: NEST
EXCURSION TO EMPA: NEST a modular research and innovation building in Dübendorf / Switzerland – 23.9.2019 EMPA is an interdisciplinary research institute working in the fields of material science and technology development. The EMPA NEST is a five story building in which building innovations developed by both EMPA and their partners can be tested. The …
EXCURSION TO EPFL – MICHAEL GRÄTZEL
EXCURSION TO EPFL – MICHAEL GRÄTZEL Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces EPFL in Lausanne / Switzerland – 24.9.2019 Lecture by Prof. Michael Grätzel Michael Grätzel is a professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. In 1991, he developed the so-called Grätzel cell, a solar cell, that works on the principle of photosynthesis and could offer …
EXCURSION TO SOLARONIX
EXCURSION TO SOLARONIX a company producing dye-sensitized solar cells in Aubonne / Switzerland – 24.9.2019 Solaronix is a small Swiss company, founded in 1993 by the twin brothers Andreas and Toby Meyer (T. Meyer, a former student of Prof. Michael Grätzel). The company was founded to commercialize the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC), under the assumption …
INTERVIEW with ARMIN WEDEL
INTERVIEW with ARMIN WEDEL from FRAUNHOFER IAP by Johanna Denecke You conduct research on organic solar cells, among other things. What advantages can offset their lower efficiency compared to conventional solar cells? Will they really ever be cheaper? If you really want to use organic solar cells just to generate electricity, it does not really …
REFLEX
REFLEX On the visibility of active solar cells The sun is a high-functioning and ever present energy source. At the same time it is hard to grasp. Light is volatile and conventional solar cells do not give an intuitive feedback indicating their activity. To make the vast power of the sun more accessible to people, …
IDEATION WORKSHOP I
IDEATION WORKSHOP I Part 1: Brainstorming 3 Definitions – Everyday situations – Everyday objects – Properties of algae Starting from the concepts collected to the individual definitions, three random terms are selected from each conceptual cloud and then used for the generating of ideas. Part 2: Brainwriting Everyone selects one from all ideas that were …