Israeli expert significantly boosts efficiency of solar cells

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.idtechex.com/printedelectronicsworld/articles/israeli_expert_significantly_boosts_efficiency_of_solar_cells_00000789.asp

Israeli expert significantly boosts efficiency of solar cells

A leading photovoltaics expert in Israel has demonstrated how metallic wires mounted on conductive glass can form the basis of solar cells that produce electricity with efficiency similar to that of conventional, silicon-based cells - but are much cheaper to produce.

Professor Arie Zaban, Head of Bar-Ilan University's Nanotechnology Institute in Israel had in his earlier efforts produced photovoltaic cells just one square centimeter in size. He now claims that he has achieved a cell measuring ten by ten - something that he says will significantly boost its usefulness in technologies that seek to produce commercial amounts of solar power.

Initially, they created linked arrays of very small cells, which led to a loss of efficiency because the sunlight hitting the space between the cells was not converted to electricity. He says that their new design offers ten times more surface area, which means that more of the array is actively capturing the sun's energy making their new cell a practical choice for solar energy production.

Another of his recent discoveries brings costs down by economizing on platinum - an expensive metal embedded on the glass cell's surface. "We've found a way to produce platinum nanodots - tiny crystals measuring only a few nanometers in diameter. The highly reactive metal is an important part of the solar cells operation - Thanks to this technique now under consideration for a patent - we reduce the amount of platinum needed by a factor of 40," said Professor Zaban.

...

[Demeter]

1. Very Interesting! Thanks for the Post!