In a paper to be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Applied Physics Letters, Wake Forest researchers describe how they have achieved record efficiency for organic or flexible, plastic solar cells by creating “nano-filaments” within light absorbing plastic, similar to the veins in tree leaves. This allows for the use of thicker absorbing layers in the devices, which capture more of the sun’s light.
Efficient plastic solar cells are extremely desirable because they are inexpensive and lightweight, especially in comparison to traditional silicon solar panels. Traditional solar panels are heavy and bulky and convert about 12 percent of the light that hits them to useful electrical power. Researchers have worked for years to create flexible, or ‘conformal,’ organic solar cells that can be wrapped around surfaces, rolled up or even painted onto structures.
Three percent was the highest efficiency ever achieved for plastic solar cells until 2005 when David Carroll, director of the
Now Carroll said his group has surpassed the six percent mark.
‘Within only two years we have more than doubled the three percent mark,’ Carroll said. ‘I fully expect to see higher numbers within the next two years, which may make plastic devices the photovoltaic of choice.’
In order to be considered a viable technology for commercial use, solar cells must be able to convert about eight percent of the energy in sunlight to electricity.
Because they are flexible and easy to work with, plastic solar cells could be used as a replacement for roof tiling or home siding products or incorporated into traditional building facades. These energy harvesting devices could also be placed on cars. Since plastic solar cells are much lighter than the silicon solar panels structures do not have to be reinforced to support additional weight.
Swiss geoengineering start-up targets methane removal
No mention whatsoever about the effect of increased methane levels/iron chloride in the ocean on the pH and chemical properties of the ocean - are we...