Drs. Gleason and Bulovic (ChemE and EE departments of MIT), along with 7 other researchers (ChemE, EE, and Materials Science of MIT) have made a tremendous breakthrough in solar “panels”. Why is “panels” in quotes? These panels can be “printed” on copy paper, tracing paper, tissue, and newsprint. They can even be folded into different shapes. (These results were published in Advanced Materials.)
This means these panels can be on the walls of your home- providing power to your home or be made into wearable materials. And, since the conventional backing (glass or plastic substrates) adds to the weight and cost of solar panels (25-60% of the total material costs), this will lower the cost of solar panel purchases, as well. Another key factor: the vapor deposition of the polymer did not involve the use of rare elements (indium, for example) or solvents; plus, these panels are produced at low temperatures.
How did they make this innovative change? By substituting a conducting (and flexible) polymer as the base layer of the solar cell for the transparent metal oxide that is normally employed. [For the technical folks: poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) was substituted for the conventional transparent conductive electrode, such asindium-tin oxide (ITO).] These new cells have five separate layers- the polymer electrode, three materials that concentrate the solar irradiation and a metal electrode as the top layer. Each layer is deposited one at a time via vacuum deposition.
The polymer (conductive layer) must have a high optical transmittance and a low sheet resistance to serve in the photovoltaic cell. Paper substrates have a surface roughness that provides for large light scattering (both through reflection and transmission), yet very little absorptive losses. The paper photovoltaic arrays could actually produce 50 V or more (thereby supplying the power for indoor lighting.
Of course, these solar panels are not yet ready for prime time- their efficiency is about 1%. I can hardly wait for the next development- like this one below.
And, another new development from MIT. While we have known that the conversion of heat to energy via a PV cell is possible (not using sunlight), this new collector converts the heat into precise wavelengths of light- the ones that are optimally converted to electricity. So, instead of converting heat into mechanical energy and then to electricity (fuel to boil water to turn a turbine to run a generator, which comprises about 92% of our energy consumption), we can now skip a few steps and have no moving parts.
Drs. Soljačić, Celanovic, Bermel, Fisher, Ghebrebrhan, and Joannopoulos published these findings in Physical Review A (Tailoring thermal emission via Q matching of photonic crystal resonances). They describe the development of a thermal emitter which radiates energy that can be absorbed by the PV diode. This was done by creating “nano” (small) surface features, which propagates the light in a very different way than the conventional pattern. Each pit produced acts as a resonator, emitting light at very specific wavelengths.
This device is used in conjunction with a “micro-reactor” developed by Dr. Jensen (ChemE, MIT) [the size of a button], which converts butane or propane (the heat source). Right now the conversion efficiency of the overall device is thrice that of a lithium battery of the same size and weight. The MIT group expects to triple the efficiency yet again.
This is amazing technology, while it won’t eliminate our dependence on fossil fuel as a culture – it suggests the promise of semi-sustainability. Awesome info!!!
Tor- that heat to power concept is one to watch.
The wallpaper could be nice (if hooked to a battery to let you have power at night, too).
We’ll see.
Roy
Wow, love way solar is being innovated. Look forward to hearing how they progress with this new technology. thank you for blogging about this, solar is close to my heart and this may be a way to make it more accessible to many after they work out how to make it more efficient
Maybe this could be developed soon enough to power your kitchen, Shivie!
That would be ultra-cool!
Roy
While the technical aspects are over my head, I do know one thing. Make it easy to use, make it cheap to use, and they will come. They being the consuming public. Good post. Very interesting.
~cath
The goal of these two projects, Cathy, was to make it pervasive. Easy comes when you can go into a Lowe’s or a Home Depot, or the last few of the remaining corner hardware stores, and come up with a functional unit.
No matter what you think of Bill Gates, his vision was to make the computer just like the fridge. Every one has one, no one knows how it works, but they know what it does and use it every day. That’s the goal here.
Thanks for dropping in!
Roy
Wow, maybe I can “go green” with solar panels much sooner then I ever imagined. Great post Roy.
Jen:
Between the conversion of heat and this lightweight converter, we may be seeing the next quantum jump for solar!
Roy
Roy, You have such a brilliant talent for finding and reporting on technical matters. Thanks. MY brother is waiting for the okay fom the power company in South Jersey, HE is going completely off grid. Already he has the geothermal going and just waiting for that last piece which allows him, not only to be self sufficient ( can you imagine?) but sell back excess power to the company.
Now who wouldn’t love for the power company to pay them!
Ali Bierman recently posted..Left Brain Vs Right Brain Living
The comment box froze on me so I hope my message is coherent.
Ali Bierman recently posted..Left Brain Vs Right Brain Living
I fear it failed, Ali. Perhaps, like our first solar panels 🙂
Roy
Ali:
Correction- I found the submission in the SQL database. And, have posted it for you.
That is FANTASTIC for your brother. I have wanted to do the same, but my house exposure is not accommodating. I have strongly considered using solar hot water heating- which for me would be a breeze, since I only use hot water to wash the dishes (and when my kids are home for their showers), so I don’t need much. But, my local zoning authority is not a fan of my design- and to spend $ 2500 for the design they like is counterproductive. (I spend less than $ 200 a year for hot water, if I spend half that much!)
I would love to know how your brother’s designs work out!
Roy
I have heard a lot about solar panels and I want to know how these solar panels works and is it really possible to generate electricity using solar panels. And what is the cost of getting a solar panel installed?
Without knowing the size of the solar panel, it’s rather difficult to give you a number. That’s like asking how much would dinner cost?
The general pricing for solar panels runs about $4.25 per watt.
I hope that helps!
Roy