Stephen Y. Chou and his Team of Researchers at Princeton University
In what is believed to be a breakthrough in the Solar Industry, A group of Electrical researches in Princeton University, led by Stephen Chou, has found an economical and simple way which almost triple the efficiency of ordinary organic solar cells - the cheap and flexible
plastic devices that many scientists believe could be the future of
solar power.
Scientist has overcome the core issue of Solar Cells: The inavailability to fully capture light that enters the cell and light reflecting from the cell (shown in Image 1). The Scientist rectified this issue using a nano structured sandwich of metal and plastic that collects and traps light.
The sandwich also called the subwavelength plasmonic cavity has an
extraordinary ability to dampen reflection and trap light. This new
technique is what allowed the researches to create a solar cell which reflects
only 4 percent of light and absorbs as much as 96 percent. Also the New Technique demonstrates 52 percent higher efficiency in converting light to
electrical energy than a conventional solar cell and leads to 175 percent total increase.
Chou said the technology also should increase the efficiency of
conventional inorganic solar collectors, such as standard silicon solar
panels, although he cautioned that his team has not yet completed
research with inorganic devices.
High Efficiency Oganic PlaCSH Solar Cell Working:
The top layer, known as the window layer, of the new solar cell uses
an incredibly fine Gold mesh which is 30 nanometers thick, and
each hole is 175 nanometers in diameter and 25 nanometers apart. This Golden Mesh replaces the conventional window
layer typically made of a material called indium-tin-oxide (ITO).
The mesh window layer is placed very close to the bottom layer of the
sandwich, the same Aluminum film used in conventional solar cells. In
between the two metal sheets is a thin strip of semiconducting material
used in solar panels. It can be any type silicon, plastic or gallium
arsenide.
Is This Technology Cheap?
These cells can be manufacture cost-effectively in the shape of sheets using low cost Printing Technology, which embosses nanostructures over a large area, like
printing a newspaper. The Researches said that they will continue to refine this technology and increase it's effeciency, which will lead to commercialization of Oganic PlaCSH Solar Cell.
Article Written by: Rahul R Prabhu
For more information contact: rprabhu@renewindians.com
For more information contact: rprabhu@renewindians.com
