Eco Factor: Organic photovoltaic solar cells with efficiency of 8.3 percent.
The National Energy Renewable Laboratory has announced that Konarka Technologies’ new organic-based photovoltaic solar cells have demonstrated a record breaking 8.3 percent conversion efficiency. While the new record efficiency is much lower than the over 40 percent efficiency achieved by inorganic solar cells, it is significantly better than other prototypes.
The record-breaking efficiency is for Konarka’s large area single-junction solar cell with a surface area of one square centimeter. The solar cell is made of several thin layers of a photo-reactive printed layer, a transparent electrode layer, a plastic substrate and a protective packaging layer. The solar panels can be manufactured in virtually any length and these panels can be connected for greater output.
Via: Gizmag
