NEWS OF THE WEEK LOTS 0' DOTS UC Santa Barbara researchers use cost-saving techniques to produce arrays of solar cells that use dye molecules or nanometersized CdSe-CdS quantum dots to collect light. Micrographs show that the quantum-dot coverage (white specks) can be increased, which, in turn, improves performance.
PHOTOVOLTAICS
In the Santa Barbara design, photons are collected by molecules of merbromin, a fluorescein d^e, that are adsorbed on a thin gpld film. The film is supported by a layer of Ti0 2 that, in turn, rests on titanium. As light is absorbed in the dye layer, the molecules liberate energetic electrons that are transported through the gold film, injected into the Ti0 2 sorbs sunlight and converts the layer, and ultimately conducted to light energy into electrons and the Ti electrode. Working with holes (positively charged electron Galen D. Stucky, a professor of vacancies). At the same time, the chemistry and materials, the team material separates electrons and is also studying other types of light holes and delivers the charge car- collectors. riers to current collectors. The McFarland acknowledges that, job calls for high-purity materi- in their present state, the photo als and methods. cells' light-conversion efficiencies But now, chemical engineering are too low for commercial approfessor Eric W McFarland and plications, but he notes that the graduate student Jing Tang have work demonstrates a new design devised a multilayer photovolta- concept. Now, the group is inic-cell structure in which the pho- vestigating several methods for ton-absorption and charge-sepa- improving performance, such as ration functions occur in distinct boosting surface area and conlayers that can be prepared by rel- centration of dye molecules and atively simple means [Nature, 421, reducing surface reflections.— MITCH JACOBY 616(2003)}.
BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR SOLAR POWER Novel cell design may lower costs of photovoltaic devices
A
NEW DESIGN FOR PHOTO-
voltaic cells may reduce the cost of the expensive devices that convert sunlight into electrical energy. Developed by scientists at the University ofCalifornia, Santa Barbara, the novel architecture may sidestep the need for costly materials and manufacturing methods. In conventional solar cells, a layer of silicon hosts several key processes simultaneously to derive useful electrical energy For example, the semiconductor ab-
EMPLOYMENT
JOB SITE DEBUTS
chemical sciences—from university professors and government agency scientists to industry researchers, lab technicians, marketing and sales representatives, and managers. "With its wide array of services and ease ofuse, cen-chemjobs. org will be the chemical communit/s number one online job site," C&EN Editor-in-Chief Madeleine Jacobs says. "Especially in the current tight job market, cenchemjobs.org will enable job seekers to find their dream jobs and employers to find the most qualified candidates." Information on job seekers who were registered onJobSpectrum.org will transfer automatically to cen-chemjobs.org. Job seekers and employers also will be able to continue to transfer information from the ACS NECH Employment Center online database to the cen-chemjobs.org database.-CORINNE MARASCO
Chemical & Engineering News launches new online service, cen-chemjobs.org
C
HEMICAL Sc ENGINEERING
News has launched a new online job site, http://www. cen-chemjobs.org. The site combines C&ENs online career information and classified ads with content from JobSpectrum.org, an American Chemical Society website thatfeaturesonlineonly employment ads, résumé posting, and e-mail alerts. Since 1995, employers who advertise jobs in the print edition of C&EN
10
C & E N / F E B R U A R Y 10, 2 0 0 3
have automatically had the online version ofthose ads postedforthe exclusive use of ACS members. Those ads will continue to be available exclusively to ACS members for two weeks at cenchemjobs.org. The cen-chemjobs.org website capitalizes on C&EN employment advertising's position as the top resource for finding a job within the chemical enterprise. The site also provides links to the ACS Department of Career Services, which offers specialized professional services for society members. Cen-chemjobs.org hosts a wide range ofjob openings in the
HTTP://WWW.CEN-0NLINE.ORG
