Polymer solar panels that are cheaper, lighter and greener
Don't run yet! I'm the first who would like to cover my car with film and get it powered to run on photovoltaic energy, but that option isn't hear yet. New research could make it a little bit closer, though. Physicist Neil Greenham from Cambridge University's Cavendish Laboratory had been researching polymer light emitting diodes (LEDs), used for displays in some televisions, MP3 players and mobile phones. But then he joined a research group trying to use similar polymers to generate electricity from light. Now, his work has resulted an organic solar cell that doesn't use expensive silicon. Silicon-made photovoltaic panels are expensive, heavy and not very green to make.
Nevertheless, this technology has a drawback: very low efficiency. While state-of-the-art silicon panels can yield 40 percent efficiency, commercially available panels usually get about 15 percent. Greenham's target is 5 percent, which could power many types of devices with a cheaper cost. To make things more interesting, the scientists want to "print" solar cells with an ultra-thin mix of two semiconducting polymers on a flexible plastic backing up to one meter wide. The process, which would be low-temperature, would have a much smaller carbon footprint.
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[Source: Desolasol]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
AES 2:44PM (11/30/2007)
Sounds similar to CIGS semiconductor ink, which is in pre-commercialization already by a couple of firms. Nanosolar is the one that gets the most attention.
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Chris M 3:10PM (11/30/2007)
For many applications the key figure is not efficiency, but cost per watt. If it was affordable to cover the roof with solar cells, even a modest 5% efficiency would give a respectable amount of power.
However, for more compact applications where the solar intercept area is limited (like on the roof of a car, or portable devices) efficiency becomes much more important.
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Ernie 5:04PM (11/30/2007)
Well, this is all well and good, but in order to get a car to run on solar power, you must first make it run on what, 3? 4 horsepower?
And if you make a car that small, light, and aerodynamic, then a gas engine can give you 400 mpg.
But somehow, people just aren't interested in one-passenger cars that pack you inside of it like a sardine. Most people would rather just walk, actually.
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