Clean Energy

Abstract
The performance of photovoltaic devices could be improved by using rationally designed nanocomposites with high electron mobility to efficiently collect photo-generated electrons. Single-walled carbon nanotubes exhibit very high electron mobility, but the incorporation of such nanotubes into nanocomposites to create efficient photovoltaic devices is challenging. Here, we report the synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotube–TiO2 nanocrystal core–shell nanocomposites using a genetically engineered M13 virus as a template. By using the nanocomposites as photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells, we demonstrate that even small fractions of nanotubes improve the power conversion efficiency by increasing the electron collection efficiency. We also show that both the electronic type and degree of bundling of the nanotubes in the nanotube/TiO2 complex are critical factors in determining device performance. With our approach, we achieve a power conversion efficiency in the dye-sensitized solar cells of 10.6%.

Nice little Time article on what I’ve been talking about.

Slightly off topic but this blog is a great insight into how the new economy is being constructed by the technorati/digerati/design-heads that see the near-infinite potential of the internet. Enjoy. there is a lot of content to delve into.

Can’t decide whether to trust them or not with a name like that..

About em

TrustElement provides advisory and consulting services to organizations looking for an integrated approach to climate, carbon, energy and sustainability.

TrustElement empowers its clients to reduce environmental impact and maximize business benefits by adopting practices that make operations more energy- and carbon-efficient. We enable organizations of all sizes to travel the path towards carbon neutrality, triggered both by green corporate policies and regulatory compliance.

TrustElement brings together top experts from industry, finance, policy, and professional services to create a new breed of carbon-related intellectual property. The unique skills of our team combine to provide a services portfolio that covers the entire professional services life-cycle of carbon consulting, validation and verification, and project management.

Contact us to align your business needs with our services and understand the benefits of partnering with TrustElement

Click on the link and skim the 66 page document. Very informative with regard to the American and Chinese attitudes towards the ongoing, inevitable shift to green energy sources. Aside from societal, economic and logistic barriers to this shift, I want to pose the question: how many people are paid by oil/gas/coal companies to stop the public and government from moving forward with eco-friendly projects.

Here is an article on how marketing/advertising can alter people’s perception of their brand. Invest in a journey, apparently.

Here is an article on the US government’s green moment.

Here is an article on the psychology behind the US’s inability really go green.

Here is a better article on the psychology behind environmentalism.

Anyway, let me get back to researching companies worth investing in. There are A LOT. Looking into small wind energy companies and reading about Moore’s Curse. It’s a major issue when thinking through my green tipping point argument. (Also, please note, I already hate saying green tipping point but I’m sticking with it until I come up with something better)….I wonder if Malcolm Gladwell read my blog and thought “that tree hugging scam artist”.

Among many other things like education, infrastructure, the US patent system is backlogged by 1.2 million requests. The government should probably zip through those.

Key message: Think strategically and plan long term. Read the news but don’t let it dictate your trades.  Carefully analyze business trends and anticipate what the market will be in great need of for the next 2, 5, 10 and 20 years.

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R. Scott Raynovich, Editor in Chief, Investor Uprising

From Peter Lynch’s 1993 book, Beating the Street:

When we make the mistake of letting the news out of the bag, we are confronted with the latest reasons that mankind is doomed: global warming, global cooling, the evil Soviet empire, the collapse of the evil Soviet empire, recession, inflation, illiteracy, the high cost of health care, fundamentalist Muslims, the budget deficit, the brain drain, tribal warfare, organized crime, disorganized crime, sex scandals, money scandals, sex and money scandals.

This passage entertains me, not only because it is well written, but because so many of the same worries persist in 2011.

What’s the moral of the story? Simple. You can’t possibly predict what will happen, so stop fooling yourself. What is happening on the television right now will most likely have little influence on the market in five years — or maybe even in five months. So turn off the TV, and go find an interesting business opportunity or investment. That’s where the real work is done.