| Work Detail |
A research team from the University of Sheffield and the US power generation and storage technology provider Power Roll Limited claim to have developed a new 3D rear contact solar cell based on a raised surface with micro-grooves the width of a human hair.
The researchers said that the cell was created by coating opposite walls of microgrooves with different electrical contacts and then filling the grooves with a semiconductor applicable per solution. They claim that this type of cellular architecture can be done with fewer production processes than silicon cells based on traditional flat structures, and that it can be manufactured with other materials than silicon.
They also claim that the architecture of the new cell has the potential to reduce optical losses within the device, in addition to eliminating costly transparent conductive oxides.
"The solar modules produced with this design will weigh only a fraction of a conventional solar module of equivalent power, which could benefit less developed areas of the world and disconnected from electrical systems where it is not feasible to transport heavy solar panels, as well as having a wide range of other applications, "said the scientists.
Commercial objective
Power Roll said that mini-module prototypes had already been produced from this cell and that efforts to bring the technology to commercial production would be increased.
Professor David Lidzey, from the department of physics and astronomy at the University of Sheffield, said: "The devices we have demonstrated with Power Roll have a promising efficiency in which 7% of the energy of sunlight falls on a single Micro PV slot device is converted directly to electrical power: this is already about one third of what the most profitable but most expensive solar cells produce today. "
On its website, Power Roll says that its cell technology is five times cheaper to manufacture than silicon photovoltaic cells, 10% cheaper than other flexible devices and 40% cheaper to transport and install. |
