Today when the chances of getting power and energy from thermal sources are losing importance because of the danger to environment, solar and other sources of renewable energy come as a blessing in disguise. The solar cells contribute in green technology and humbly pose as an alternative to nonrenewable and polluting energy sources. World’s largest trade fair of nanotechnology in Tokyo will see the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg presenting greener avenues toward industrial mass production.
Organic solar cells are very much the talk of the day, especially with their modest application, flexibility, and sustainability over a long period of time. The new version of organic cells is comparatively much cheaper than the earlier method that used expensive indium tin oxide to reflect solar energy. However, it is time to welcome the cheaper version with poorly conductive transparent polymer electrode connected to a highly conductive metal layer. Several tiny holes or complementary positive charges in the thin solar cell make the photon in the sunrays to penetrate into it and gets absorbed by a semi conducting material, which in turn generates heat or electricity.
The thin film is certain to prove handy particularly in reducing the amount of light absorbing material required in creating a solar cell, which is silicon in wafer based solar cell. Technology with thin-film solar cells will particularly see a significant price drop per kWh.
However, the organic solar cells can be currently used in small portable devices like the MP3 and mobile music players. Still, the research has shown the way to a better, clean and cheap energy source. Are we ready to swap to this technology?
Source: Physorg
