Eco Factor: New solar cells promise an efficiency of 6%.
Researchers at the University of California have designed a new solar cell which will be far cheaper than conventional silicon cells, maybe up to 10 times cheaper. This new method will not just be pocket friendly but will also be high on efficiency, as the researchers claim that these new cells will be around 300% more efficient than existing solar cells.
The key components:
The cells consists of a range of 550-nanometer-high cadmium sulfide pillars embedded in a film of cadmium telluride. These cells are implanted upright in the aluminum foil. The pillar cells also become bendable when enclosed in polymer. The cells are said to have an efficiency of 6% in transforming light into electricity. Other pillar solar cells have not been successful as they were expensive and showcased efficiency of only 2%.
Working of the cell:
The working of the nanopillar cell is very simple. The material encircling the pillars acts as a light absorbent and creates electrons. The pillars transport the generated electrons to the electrical circuits and are closely packed to help absorb more light. The electrons have a small distance to travel, which decreases their chance of getting trapped in the defects. This explains the use of cheaper and low-quality material for the construction of the cells.
Improving the cell efficiency:
The cell efficiency could almost be doubled if instead of using the top copper-gold layer which is semi-transparent some transparent alternative is used. The researchers are thinking of using indium oxide as the alternative. The researchers are also thinking of replacing the semiconductor material they are using right now as cadmium is very toxic.
Via: TechnologyReview
