Transparent solar cells for windows that
generate electricity
Scientists are reporting development of a new transparent solar
cell, an advance toward giving windows in
homes and other buildings the ability to generate electricity while
still allowing people to see outside.
There has been intense world-wide interest in so-called polymer
solar cells (PSCs), which are made from plastic-like materials.
PSCs are lightweight and flexible and can be produced in high
volume at low cost. That interest extends to producing transparent PSCs.
However, previous versions of transparent PSCs have had many disadvantages.
They describe a new kind of PSC that produces energy by
absorbing mainly infrared light, not visible light, making the cells 66 percent
transparent to the human eye. They made the device from a photoactive plastic
that converts infrared light into an electric current.
Another breakthrough is the transparent conductor made of a
mixture of silver nanowire and titanium dioxide nanoparticles, which was able
to replace the opaque metal electrode used in the past.
This composite electrode also allowed the solar cell to be
fabricated economically by solution processing. The suggestion is that the panels
could be used in smart windows or portable electronics.
No comments:
Post a Comment