Patented breakthrough improves potential of solar to become cost-effective, reliable energy source
A patented breakthrough by researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology improves the efficiency of organic photovoltaic cells by 50 percent, and could someday provide a huge boost for the viability of solar power as a major source of energy. The researchers recently published their findings in the Journal of Applied Physics.
Organic photovoltaic cells convert solar energy into electric power through organic molecules. One of their advantages over “traditional” solar cells made of silicon is that they can be mounted on lightweight, flexible, and easy-to-replace sheets, which can be spread on roofs and buildings like wallpaper, converting solar energy into electrical current. In the future, they could also be used to provide a cost-efficient and reliable source of electricity in isolated regions.
Despite the advantages of organic cells, their conversion potential to this point has not been fully utilized, according to lead researcher Professor Nir Tessler, of the Technion Faculty of Electrical Engineering, and director of the Wolfson Microelectronic Center and of the Sarah and Moshe Zisapel Nanoelectronics Center at the Technion.
“In our study, we found that the organic photovoltaic cell’s efficiency and electricity production are limited by structural aspects,” he explains. “We have proved that the limitations are related not to the material, but to the device structure. We have developed an addition to the existing systems, improving the efficiency of converting solar energy into electric current inside the cell from 10% (a level considered to be “high efficiency”) to 15% (the level at which industry experts say organic solar cells will be cost-effective), and adding 0.2 volts to the cell’s voltage.”
The development is based on increasing the energy gap between the electrodes by changing their fixed position in the system. By doing so, the researchers were able to increase the voltage, leading to an increase in system power. “This improvement is significant for the relevant industry, and it was achieved by focusing on structural changes in the device, versus developing new materials, a common approach by researchers in this field. It seems as if we have stretched the laws of physics with the aid of engineering.”
Prof. Tessler estimates that he and his team will complete the development of a prototype system within a year.
Learn more: Buildings Wrapped in High-Efficiency, Flexible Solar Cells? It Could Happen.
The Latest on: Flexible solar cells
[google_news title=”” keyword=”flexible solar cells” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Flexible solar cells
- How Many Solar Panels Does It Take To Power An RV/Motorhome?on April 26, 2024 at 11:15 pm
Solar power for RVs is taking off, so if you're looking to add some solar panels to your vehicle, it can take some math to figure out exactly what you need.
- Ultra-thin, flexible solar cells demonstrate their promise in a commercial quadcopter droneon April 24, 2024 at 9:27 am
Whether on Earth or in space, autonomous energy is critical in order to keep power systems running independently for extended periods of time, particularly in remote or unpredictable environments.
- Perovskite cells power palm-sized droneon April 24, 2024 at 4:19 am
Researchers at the Johannes Kepler University in Linz and the Linz Institute for Organic Solar Cells in Austria have developed ultra-lightweight quasi-2D perovskite solar cells with a power output of ...
- The Seaham company looking to revolutionise global solar power and help tackle climate changeon April 23, 2024 at 8:17 am
Seaham based energy company Power Roll is pioneering the development of low cost, flexible and light weight solar panelling which could revolutionise renewable energy across the globe and help tackle ...
- 8 best solar chargers for camping and backpacking, tried and testedon April 23, 2024 at 7:18 am
The sun is finally making its tentative return, which means garden parties, picnics in the park and – most thrillingly of all – the prospect of harvesting free electricity from the sky using one of ...
- Identifying what causes electron-hole separation in thin-film cells to increase solar cell efficiencyon April 21, 2024 at 5:00 pm
This study, reported in Carbon Energy ("Vertical plane depth-resolved surface potential and carrier separation characteristics in flexible CZTSSe solar cells with over 12% efficiency"), is expected to ...
- Solar cells 20x thinner than hair power long-duration drone flightson April 20, 2024 at 2:12 am
Their solution offers an ultra-lightweight, flexible solar cell that will enable long-term, self-sufficient energy generation. With a relatively high degree of stability and an enhanced power output ...
- Solar-cell-packin' drone uses sunlight for on-the-spot rechargingon April 19, 2024 at 12:19 pm
Multirotor drones may one day be able recharge their batteries while out and about, instead of having to return to a charging station. They could do so via onboard ultra-thin solar cells, which have ...
- NASA solar sail to be Siriusly visible in orbit from Earthon April 19, 2024 at 12:00 pm
According to NASA: "With its large sail, the spacecraft may be visible from Earth if the lighting conditions are just right. Once fully expanded and at the proper orientation, the sail's reflective ...
- Solar cells 20 times thinner than a strand of human hairon April 18, 2024 at 12:42 am
Solar-Powered Drones Support Sustainable Aviation. Developed by researchers at the Johannes Kepler University Linz, the new and ...
via Bing News