Successfully made solar cells from plants

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Purdue University have developed a new solar cell based on plant-derived materials.

According to the Gizmag tech news site, this type of organic photovoltaic battery has a 2.7% efficiency - a relatively high performance level for the raw materials recovered from raw materials, and of course the battery can also be re-used. Easy processing.

The team, led by Professor Bernard Kippelen at the Georgia Institute of Technology's School of Engineering, is hoping to bring sustainable, long-lasting solar cell technology closer to reality for the first time.

"The development and performance of organic materials in solar cell technology continues to improve, giving engineers the opportunity for future applications," said Kippelen. If we do not, we simply solve one problem: reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, while developing a technology that produces energy from the environment. The fuel can be recovered but can not be destroyed after the end of the life cycle. "

Organic solar cells are usually made from glass or plastic, both of which are difficult to recycle. However, Kippelen's solar cells are made from cellulose (CNC) nanoparticles derived from plants.

To recycle new organic batteries at the end of their life cycle, they simply dip into water at room temperature. After a few minutes of infiltration, the CNC will decompose and the solar cell will quickly break down into the main components.

CNC optical transparency allows light to penetrate before being absorbed by a thin semiconductor layer. Although 2.7% is too small to compare to the record 20.4% of solar cells developed by Empa, Switzerland, the environmental benefits of recycled solar cells are very high. clearly.

Researchers also hope to boost battery performance in the near future, Kippelen said. "Our next steps are to find ways to improve battery power conversion efficiency by more than 10% - a similar level to that of hydrocarbon-based batteries or petroleum-like materials. "