Public-Private Research Body Develops New Thin-Film Solar Tech
Public and private entities have jointly developed a substrate for organic thin-film solar cells that can turn light into electricity as efficiently as silicon solar cells.
Kyushu University worked on the project with Panasonic Electric Works Co. and Lintec Corp.. All three are members of Beans Laboratory, a public-private research association.
The substrate was made of organic semiconductor materials that contained arch-shaped protrusions measuring 40 nanometers in diameter. Experiments showed that the substrate with protrusions converted more light into electricity than the one without protrusions.
Organic thin-film solar cells are particularly light due to their sheetlike shape. They are said to offer significantly lower production costs than conventional silicon solar cells, but they are less durable than silicon products.
They do offer a wide range of potential applications, however. As organic thin-film solar cells are bendable and can generate electricity from fluorescent lights, they will most likely be used in mobile devices and wall outlets. Commercialization is targeted in 2015.
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