|
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
|
|
RESEARCHNovember 19, 2009Dye solar cell efficiency could hit 20%Cut the energy losses between the dye and semiconductor parts of a dye solar cell, and you can dramatically boost the amount of electricity these inexpensive cells produce.Traditional solar cells use a single, relatively expensive material -- typically silicon -- to convert photons to electrons and channel the electrons into a circuit. Dye-sensitized solar cells split those functions between a pair of inexpensive materials: a light-absorbing dye and an electron-conducting semiconductor. One challenge is making dye solar cells efficient enough to be commercially competitive. A study of dye solar cells shows that if researchers can reduce the energy loss in a cell between absorbing light and passing electricity into a circuit to 0.4 electron volts, the theoretical sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiency can reach 20.25 percent. This is the efficiency of many commercially available silicon solar cells. The best of today's dye solar cell technologies lose 0.75 electron volts, which results in a theoretical conversion efficiency limit of 13.4 percent. Today's most efficient laboratory prototypes convert about 12 percent. Dye solar cells are a type of thin-film solar cell, which means they can be lightweight and flexible. One potential use is energy-harvesting coverings for buildings and vehicles. Research paper: Estimating the Maximum Attainable Efficiency in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Advanced Functional Materials, published online November 17, 2009 Researchers' contact: Henry Snaith Related stories and briefs: Relay boosts dye solar cells -- related research The dyes have it -- related research Back to ERN home |
ShareFeedsNews | Blog
E-mail headlines Energy-related books and products from Amazon.com |
© Copyright Technology Research News
2008-2010. All rights reserved.
