Green Options » consumer electronics

Sharp Nails a Record 35.8% Solar Conversion Efficiency

Tina Casey — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:10:46 +0000

Sharp Corporation has just announced that it has achieved the world’s highest solar cell conversion efficiency using a compound layered design based on the technology used in the solar cells that power space satellites. Mindful of the link between sustainable energy and the future market for consumer electronics, Sharp has been aggressively pursuing solar efficiency improvements that lend themselves to commercial application.

Instead of silicon, compound solar cells use two or more photo-absorption layers composed of different elements. The trick is to find materials that generate the most current with the least waste. Sharp’s innovation is a proprietary technology that enables it to produce a high-efficiency crystalline compound, InGaAs (indium-gallium-arsenide), which boosted the efficiency of Sharp’s previous cells from 31.5% to 35.8%.

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Fuel-Cell Firm Lilliputian Raises Cash, Keeps Mum About Commercial Launch Date

Jennifer Kho — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:33:09 +0000

Wilmington, Mass.-based fuel-cell company Lilliputian Systems, which announced it raised $28 million this week, wants to set the record straight.

In October, The Wall Street Journal wrote that the company would be shipping its matchbook-sized fuel cells late this year. But now, the company — which is developing the cells for a range of consumer electronics, including cell phones and laptops — isn’t saying when its products will be commercially available, only that it plans to announce the timing this summer. Does that mean we can expect a delay?

Mouli Ramani, vice president for business development, tells me that’s not the case. When he spoke with the Journal, he was referring to a test-market launch with its partners, not a commercial launch that would make the fuel cells available to the general public, he says. In other words, don’t expect to be able to buy Lilliputian fuel cells at Best Buy this year.

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Future Looks Bright with First OLED Christmas Tree

Marika Collins — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:24:57 +0000

The folks at General Electric Global Research have put together the first ever OLED Christmas tree. GE has a tradition of showcasing its most recent technology in an annual holiday gesture, this year choosing to demonstrate their roll-to-roll OLED fabrication that they unveiled last March.

The tree was made by wrapping a green-glowing 6 inch by 15 foot OLED around a spiral Christmas tree form.

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33% of Consumers Want to Buy Greener Electronics

Jerry James Stone — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:50:57 +0000

According to Environmental Leader, via the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), thirty-three percent of consumers plan to buy greener gadgets over the next two years. The report is based on an online survey of over 900 adults. I wonder if any of them are mayors?

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