Solar panels are not new to the world of green technology. But the eco-techie bar is raised with stuff like bendable solar cells. Highly bendable “dye-sensitized” solar cells ((DSCCs) made from zinc oxide nanowire photoelectrodes on plastic substrates have been developed by researchers led by Chang-yun Jiang in Singapore. The devices, which conserve their photovoltaic properties even when greatly bent, could find use in a variety of flexible and portable applications, such as solar-cell mobile phone chargers, clothes and umbrellas. Estimated to be low on cost, this technology can be largely applicable to improve the light-to-electric power conversion efficiency and develop larger flexible DSSCs.
Jiang and his team grew the zinc oxide nanowire film on a transparent plastic indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate and immersed the zinc oxide film in a ruthenium dye solution to make the working electrode. They then prepared a flexible counter electrode by electron-beam coating a 50 nm platinum layer on another plastic substrate. The flexible cell was completed by bonding the nanowire working electrode and the platinum counter electrode together, ensuring that a gap of 50 micron was left between the two so that a liquid electrolyte could be poured into the device. Now when the sunlight reaches the cell the dye absorbs the light and excites the electrons, which inject into the zinc oxide and then transfer to the ITO electrode via the nanowires. These electrons subsequently pass through the external circuit to arrive at the counter electrode where they pass into the electrolyte.
Other innovative paradigm of solar power technologies is the “nano-flakes” which is crystalline material that can efficiently convert almost twice the amount of solar energy into electricity than conventional solar panels.
And you thought that solar power technology is not moving into the future?
Via: TheFutureOfThings
