ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with devices for solar absorption that produce heat (photothermal conversion in solar collectors) and electricity (photoelectric conversion in solar cells). These devices can be building-integrated on roofs, walls and even windows, and they can also be free standing. Figure 6.1 shows some illustrative examples, specically of a solar collector installation (a), a wall essentially covered with solar cells (b), and solar cells integrated in a wall glazing (c). The latter example shows solar cells that are very well protected by the glazing, but obviously these windows do not permit a good visual indoorsoutdoors contact. Both photothermal and photoelectric devices lead to heating of the air around them, which then contributes to the urban heat island effect in big cities (cf. Section 7.2). The focus of this chapter is on nanostructural features of essential materials for applications to heat and electricity.
