october 26, 2010
According to a Stanford University research team, thin-film solar cells whose efficiency exceeds by ten times current highest estimates can be developed by using nanostructured polymeric materials.
Within a limited time lapse, it will be possible to manufacture thin-film solar photovoltaic cells capable of absorbing an amount of energy that will be ten or even twelve times higher than current estimates. The latter is stated by a Stanford University (California) research team in a study published in the latest edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences magazine.
To this end, the Californian scientists developed a technique capable of “trapping” the photons that make up light in a layer of polymeric materials. This technique is already used by research labs, being considered a suitable alternative to silicon-made photovoltaic solar cells.
The real innovation introduced by the Stanford team consists in the adoption of the nanometric scale: this means that extremely thin polymeric layers are used, whose width ranges within millionths of a millimetre. By working on this size range, researchers found that photons could be trapped for longer, thus increasing energy absorption far more than what had been achieved with traditional techniques. In short, the way in which the new technique confines the photons in a way allows it to capture a much greater amount of energy from light.
According to the research team, “the advantage thus obtained is really surprising. By exceeding the limits of traditional techniques, it is possible to design far more efficient solar cells”.
Cells developed by using of the new technique are expected not only to have an improved efficiency, but also to be less costly, since polymers are far less expensive than silicon and, additionally, only a reduced amount will be needed to manufacture ultra-thin cells.
I keep hearing about improved solar cells but nothing ever comes to market. I have thousands of square feet of south facing roof area which just needs thin film solar panels gluing to it. We are still talking £12,000 to £18,000 for 4 kilowatts.
Everything you have heard has been in only the last few years. Those PVC’s are cheaper now than even a few years ago. Still, it takes time for millions in coal and oil money to be spent to crush it, politically if not criminally. The problem is, the dirty, toxic, coal and oil co.’s have their hold on the market to protect and maintain, and they may, again, feel threatened enough to kill any innovation that threatens them – just like they have lied about global warming and bought enough politicians to get whatever they want (read about the millions/billions they spent on this 2010 election in the US!). Let’s hope that, for once, they fail and we succeed – in getting better cleaner cheaper energy sources.
-ed