The new cell technology combines nanoparticles and organic dyes that can be produced in any number of colors and designs.
The key component of the new modules is an organic dye which in combination with nanoparticles converts sunlight into electricity. Due to the small size of the nanoparticles, the modules are semi-transparent. This aspect makes them well suited for fasade integration. The new solar cells are being developed by members of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, who will be presenting their new technology in Tokyo at Nanotech 2008,
The solar module prototype is amber in color. It is possible, however, to produce the modules in other colors, or even to PRINT IMAGES or TEXT on the module so that it serves as a decorative element. These design options up an entirely new range of possible applications. The wafer-thin electricity-generating film, which lies between two glass panes, is produced from nanoparticles and applied using screen printing technique. This technique makes it possible to integrate any desired image on the module. A glass facade made of this material can be given a decorative and promotion ally effective design, such as a colorful company logo, and delivers electricity into the bargain.
Instead of mounting the solar module on the roof of a building, the electricity producer could be integrated into windows. Used in this way, the new technology not only prohibits direct sunlight from entering the building interior but also generates electricity at the same time.
Module prototypes only achieve an efficiency of four percent, which is not sufficient for rooftop applications in comparison to the performance of crystalline silicon solar cells.
On the other hand, dye solar cells have a clear advantage when it comes to fasade integration.
One particular challenge posed by the new technology is that the narrow gap between the two glass panes must be hermetically sealed so that no air can get in and destroy the reactive substances inside. The Fraunhofer experts have come up with a special solution to this problem. Instead of using polymeric glue like their competitors, they have decided to work with glass frit. To this end, glass powder is screen-printed onto the panes, and fuses with them at a temperature of around 600 degrees Celsius.Fatigue tests under various weather conditions have shown that the solar cells still function properly even after several thousand hours.
SOURCE: ENN
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