Organic Photovoltaics
6 October 2008, 11:14
Categories: smt-energy-photovoltaic
Organic photovoltaic (OPV) solar cells are comprised of thin films of semiconducting organic compounds that can absorb photons of solar energy to produce electricity. Typically an organic polymer or a long, flexible chain of carbon-based material is used as a substrate on which semiconducting materials are applied as a solution, using a technique similar to inkjet printing.
Scientists at South Dakota State University (SDSU) are working on new OPV materials that can convert sunlight to electricity cheaper and more efficiently. SDSU’s scientists plan to use variable band gap polymers to build what are called multi-junction polymer solar cells or photovoltaics. These devices use multiple layers of polymer/fullerene films “tuned” to absorb different spectral regions of solar energy. Ideally, photons that are not absorbed by the first film layer pass through to be absorbed by the following layers. This means the devices can harvest photons from ultraviolet to visible to infrared, efficiently converting the full spectrum of solar energy to electricity.
Posted by: The Editors
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