The development of invisible solar cells

Photovoltaic cells are cells that receive sunlight and then convert them into electrical energy, which has now become popular, although it is quite expensive. So for years, photovoltaic cells have only appeared in small solar panels installed for small devices like handheld computers, lights, toys .

Solar cells are also a form of photovoltaic cells, defined as a device with electrical properties (such as current, voltage or resistance), and in particular changes according to the intensity contact with light.

Individual photovoltaic cells can be combined together to form modules, also known as solar panels.

Basically, a simple silicon solar cell can simply create a maximum voltage circuit between 0.5 and 0.6 volts. Since the generated voltage is too small to get the required voltage, solar panels need to have a very large area to capture sunlight.

And it is this that makes solar cells expensive, only the state or new corporations are able to invest in the establishment of solar power plants.

Therefore, it is still difficult for families to install solar panels on the roof to be self-reliant on electricity.

But in return, photovoltaic cells have an advantage: thanks to the photoelectric effect, it can be converted into electricity regardless of whether it is sunlight or artificial light.

But recently, TS. Richard Royal Lunt has partly solved the problem. Richard Royal Lunt is a chemical engineer, material scientist, physicist, Johansen Crosby Materials and Chemical Engineering professor at the University of Michigan (MSU, Michigan State University) in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. His invention was the development of invisible solar cells.

Dr.Richard Royal Lunt and 'invisible' solar panels on the grass field in front of MSU University.

In principle, to operate, a photovoltaic cell needs three basic properties: absorbing light and creating pairs of electron or exciton holes, separating electrically charged particles of opposite types and separating them The particle carries that power to an external circuit.

The photovoltaic cells are then combined into modules or solar panels, connected into parallel chains to give a larger voltage but there are also some inconveniences about the local shadow situation. partly reduced semiconductor plate operations.

Richard Royal Lunt's work is different. His laboratory focuses on the development of organic quantum dot electronics, holding the key of exciton diffusion length measurement method, invisible solar concentrator and light emitting diode. nano fluorescent.

Dr.Richard Royal Lunt and her assistant Yimu Zhao, a doctoral student in Chemical Technology and Materials Science and their achievements.

He is also a co-founder of Ubiquitous Energy Inc. to officially commercialize invisible solar cell products.

Lunt's photovoltaic cells are made up of molecules that absorb ultraviolet and infrared rays and turn it into electricity while allowing visible rays of light to pass through.

Applied as an overlay on the screen of a phone or smart watch, they provide usable energy for longer periods of time between charges. Some low power devices with coatings, such as electronic readers, may not need to be connected.

The prototype of devices equipped with invisible photovoltaic cells is currently on display at Ubiquitous Energy Inc.

Called invisible, because while the traditional solar panels must cover up to two layers, above is the protective glass for the semiconductor plate darkly below, then the product of Lunt in veo is no different from a plate. Conventional glass thanks to the idea of ​​placing photovoltaic cells on the edges of glass panels.

This small motor with a propeller rotates when the light shines on the glass panel with the photovoltaic cells at the sides (covered with black tape).

This design is simpler so it is cheaper to manufacture, especially for large devices. In addition, according to Lunt's statement, the technology can also be applied to traditional solar panels if designed as a top layer.

But above all, this method of designing photovoltaic cells also helps to increase power output by converting solar energy into more electricity.