1.

Solar Cells

Solar power, along with wind, wave, and geothermal energy sources, is seeing accelerating interest
in renewable energy research. Once installed, solar panels produce zero emissions as they convert
sunlight directly into energy via the photovoltaic effect, bypassing the turbine system found in every
other commercial energy source. Light is converted into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. It requires
a material that is light sensitive.

The first solar cells were constructed with gold-coated selenium and then later on, silicon that is
achieving a much-improved efficiency of 4% and introducing it as a key material in solar energy
production.

The purity of the photovoltaic-capable material is of utmost importance. Pure silicon is crystalline - a
structure necessary for photovoltaic cells. The purity level of silicon at this state is anywhere from
99.99999% to 99.9999999% pure. Silicon can be arranged into either a monocrystalline structure, which
boasts the highest efficiency rates as well as the highest cost, or a polycrystalline shell.

2. Telescope

Mirrors for space telescopes require special materials. That's where beryllium comes in. Beryllium is
a light metal (atomic symbol: Be) with many features that make it desirable to be used for the Webb
Telescope's mirrors. Beryllium is steel-gray in color, very strong for its weight and good at holding its
shape across a range of temperatures, which is just what it would encounter in space. Beryllium is also a
good conductor of electricity and heat and is not magnetic. It also has one of the highest melting points
of the light metals. Beryllium is much more capable than glass to handle the frigid cold of space.
Beryllium contracts and deforms less than glass -- and remains more uniform -- in such temperatures.

3. Cellphone/ digital camera batteries

Lithium cobalt oxide and carbon graphite are used to make the batteries. It is one of the most
common Li-ions. Its high specific energy makes Li-cobalt the popular choice for mobile phones, laptops
and digital cameras. The battery consists of a cobalt oxide cathode and a graphite carbon anode. The
cathode has a layered structure and during discharge, lithium ions move from the anode to the cathode.
The flow reverses on charge. The drawback of Li-cobalt is a relatively short life span, low thermal stability
and limited load capabilities (specific power).

4. Wind turbine blades

The most diverse use of materials and the most experimentation with new materials occur with
the blades. Although the most dominant material used for the blades in commercial wind turbines is
fiberglass with a hollow core, other materials in use include lightweight woods and aluminum.

The glass fiber determines the primary strength of the blade - not the choice of resin. Key design
properties for the strength of a wind turbine blade are weight, length, root moment and 'tip to tower'
clearance. These properties are controlled by the fiber reinforcement of the blade, the elasticity of the
resin, pre-bending of the blade and weight of the material and how they work together. Glass fiber is a
strong, versatile material.

Read more: http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Wind-Turbine.html#ixzz4EZIYhe00

5. Military body armor

Body armor must pass specific tests before it can be sold, so the different materials should all
provide the same minimum levels of protection. Some of the high quality materials are para-aramids,
ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, and hard armor materials

Aramids are man made synthetic fibers that are heat resistant and incredibly strong, with
outstanding strength-to-weight ratios.

Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, or UHMWPE for short, is another popular choice for

ballistic panels, and is used in many modern types of body armor. It can produce flexible, lightweight
ballistic panels, or more rigid, hard armor plates. Research has shown that the strength-to-weight ratio
for UHMWPE can be up to 40% higher than that of traditional para-aramid fibers.

Early types of hard armor were made from metals such as steel, however they were heavy and
often ineffective. Like soft body armor panels, modern hard armor can be made from a range of
materials. The most popular form of hard armor plates are made from ceramics or ceramic composites,
often with a para-aramid backing.