Eco Factor: Plastic solar cells with better efficiency rating being developed at Solarmer Energy.
A team of researchers at the University of Chicago are working with Solarmer Energy to develop next-gen plastic solar cells, which are more efficient than any of their predecessors. The company claims that they would be able to develop a commercial-grade prototype by the end of the year. The prototype developed by the company measures 8 square inches and is claimed to have a lifetime of three years, working at 8 percent efficiency.
While 8 percent cannot be termed as great, it’s still a considerable increase from the 5-6 percent efficiency rating of other similar cells developed till date. The secret behind this increase in efficiency is the invention of a new semiconducting material called PTB1. The new cells incorporate an active layer of PTB1 that is just 100 nanometers thick.
The Dark Side:
The technology associated with plastic solar cells is already behind other traditional solar-cell technologies, which are already far more efficient than their plastic counterparts.
Via: ScienceDaily
