Nanotechnology Researchers Increase Efficiency of Plastic Solar Cells
Summary posted by Meridian on 2/25/2009
Source: AZoNano
Author: n/a
Researchers at Canada's National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) and the University of Alberta have developed an approach that could lead to improved performance of plastic solar cells (hybrid organic solar cells). Conventional solar cells require materials that are expensive or in short supply, such as silicon, thus there is a great interest in the development of plastic solar panels that could be mass-produced and inexpensive. Jillian Buriak, a professor of chemistry at the University of Alberta, describes their approach to the plastic solar cell as "... a clubhouse sandwich, with many different layers. One layer absorbs the light, another helps to generate the electricity, and others help to draw the electricity out of the device. Normally, the layers don't stick well, and so the electricity ends up stuck and never gets out, leading to inefficient devices. We are working on the mayonnaise, the mustard, the butter and other 'special sauces' that bring the sandwich together, and make each of the layers work together. That makes a better sandwich, and makes a better solar cell, in our case." The researchers have seen improvements of about 30 percent efficiency by tackling just one part of the sandwich structure, which is detailed in their February 25th paper in the American Chemical Society's Applied Materials and Interfaces, "Thienylsilance-Modified Indium Tin Oxide as an Anodic Interface in Polymer/Fullerene Solar Cells." Buriak believes that the next generation of solar technology will be plastic and that in five to seven years they will be ready to be mass-produced. The article can be viewed online at the link below.
The original article may still be available at www.azonano.com/news.asp?newsID=10100
As tagged by Meridian Institute:
Energy:
Energy, Solar, Climate Change
Implications:
Human Enhancement, Economic Competitiveness
Materials And Manufacturing:
Plastics, Manufacturing, Materials
Nanomaterials:
Metal Nanoparticle
Regions:
North America
Stakeholders:
Government, Industry, NGO, Academia, International Institutions
Minerals And Metals:
Minerals, Metals
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