In the new study, Ackerson’s group succeeded in making heterogeneous crystals of samples of Au102 particles that had undergone a ligand-exchange reaction where the p-MBA thiols in the molecular overlayer had been partially exchanged to a similar thiol containing a Bromine atom, the so-called para–bromo benzene thiol (p-BBT), under a fast 5-minute reaction.

Christine L. Heinecke, Thomas W. Ni, Sami Malola, Ville Mäkinen, O. Andrea Wong, Hannu Häkkinen, and Chri- stopher J. Ackerson: Structural and theoretical basis for ligand exchange on thiolate monolayer protected gold nanoclusters, In: Journal of American Chemical Society ASAP, July 21, 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ja3032339: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ja3032339

P.D. Jadzinsky, G. Calero, C.J. Ackerson, D.A. Bushnell and R.D. Kornberg: Structure of a thiol monolayer-pro-tected gold nanoparticle at 1.1. Ångstrom resolution, In: Science, Vol. 318, No. 5849, October 19, 2007, Pages 430-433, DOI:10.1126/science.1148624: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/318/5849/430abstract

Fraunhofer (DE) researchers in the USA are investigating materials to protect solar cells from environmental influences. Silicone is one of the promising materials. In order to determine if silicone could replace the ethylene-vinyl acetate a team of experts worked together: researchers from Fraunhofer and from Dow Corning Corporation. The scientists coated photovoltaic cells with liquid silicone.

"When the silicone hardens, it encases the cells; the electronic components thus have optimal protection,” says project Manager Rafal Mickiewicz. The experts at CSE constructed prototypes from the silicone-laminated cells, and tested these photovoltaic modules in a climate chamber at low temperatures and under cyclic loads. Afterwards the module performance was tested with a light flasher. In addition the researchers used electro-luminescence-imaging for the detection of micro cracks. A comparison of the results with those of conventional solar modules proved that silicone-encased photovoltaic modules are more resistant to cyclic loading of the type modules experience in strong winds, in particular at a frosty minus 40° Celsius (-40° Fahrenheit).

"Dow Corning Corporation collaborated with researchers at the Fraunhofer CSE Photovoltaic Modules Group for two years. This collaboration significantly improved our understanding of the materials requirements of our solar modules, particularly in regard to sustainability and output," concludes Andy Goodwin, Global Science & Technology Manager, Dow Corning Solar Solutions.

Dr. Christian Hoepfner, Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems CSE: http://cse.fraunhofer.org/board-of-directors/hoepfner/