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Researchers at Tohoku University have developed an innovative method for fabricating semitransparent and flexible solar cells with atomically thin 2-D materials. The new technology improves power conversion efficiency of up to 0.7 percent, the highest value for solar cells made from transparent 2-D sheet materials.
Transparent or semi-transparent solar cells with excellent mechanical flexibility have attracted much attention as next-generation smart solar cells. They can be used on the surfaces of windows, front display panels of personal computers and cellphones, and human skin. But issues remain with regard to improving their power conversion efficiency, optical transparency, flexibility, stability and scalability.
Led by Associate Professor T. Kato, the team showed easy and scalable fabrication of semi-transparent and flexible solar cells using transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), an atomically thin 2-D material. Using a Schottky-type configuration, power conversion efficiency can be increased up to 0.7 percent, which is the highest value reported with few-layered TMDs. Clear power generation was also observed for a device fabricated on a large transparent and flexible substrate.
0.7 percent solar power conversion efficiency isn't much.
Toshiki Akama et al, Schottky solar cell using few-layered transition metal dichalcogenides toward large-scale fabrication of semitransparent and flexible power generator, Scientific Reports (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12287-6
(Score: 2) by tfried on Tuesday September 26 2017, @08:33PM (1 child)
TFA won't tell us how much energy is needed for the production of these cells. But considering the actual cells are few atoms thick, I do not think the energy requirements would be over the top in large scale production. (In essence the process seems to be chemical vapor deposition on an auxiliary foil, then transfer to target surface; perhaps not trivial, but not inherently energy intensive).
Now the 0.7% efficiency is the thing that doesn't sound too great, but on the upside it comes at 90% transparency. So wherever you have tinted windows, today, a layer or three of these might be used instead. Only a niche application, but still a niche.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Tuesday September 26 2017, @11:11PM
> Only a niche application, but still a niche.
To put actual numbers on it: 0.7% means that in peak sun at low latitudes, the power from your perfectly angled window (a windshield, most likely) could, ideally charge one or two USB devices (no, not USB3, the old 5V/1A ones).
Unless you put those on your sunroom/conservatory/greenhouse ceiling, I don't see how anyone will get an ROI for even the time spent thinking about putting them on.
Vertical windows, even on skyscrapers? Might pay for the copper in the power cables by the time the wrecking ball comes around.