Transparent solar cells

[n2doc]

By John Roach

A breakthrough in the chemical formula used to make organic solar cells could turn ordinary windows on the sides of homes and buildings into mini-power plants capable of producing enough electricity to run lights, gadgets, and appliances.

The photovoltaic cells contain organic molecules that harvest infrared light while allowing visible light to pass through. Previous attempts to create transparent solar cells have either had low efficiency — converting less than 1 percent of incoming solar radiation to electricity — or blocked too much visible light, according to the team developing the new cells.

The new prototype organic photovoltaics created at the Center for Excitronics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have an efficiency of 1.7 percent while allowing more than 55 percent of the visible light through, according to a paper accepted for publication in Applied Physics Letters.

Efficiency gains?
Further development of the technology — optimizing the composition and configuration of the photovoltaic materials — may lead to efficiency of 12 percent, making it comparable to existing solar cells, the researchers note.

more

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/04/19/6496989-power-up-with-windows

The entire surface of a car or house could be made into a solar collector. If this can be made cheaply enough.

[Buzz Clik]

1. I want contact lenses made of that stuff.

I need something to power the windshield wipers for my eyeballs.

[midnight]

2. Awsome.... I'm tired of this old war economy based on oil, and nuclear.

[femrap]

3. +1000! nt

[EC]

4. I picture

skylights.

[eleny]

5. The other articles linked to below this article are fascinating, too

K&R

[PoliticAverse]

6. Key phrase "may lead to efficiency of 12 percent" n/t

[TheMadMonk]

7. At those efficiencies 100-500 Watts for the average dwelling.

Not really going to make an impact, and even at idealised efficiencies just barely comparable to current bolt on rooftop systems.

I would much preffer to see complete roofing systems with integrated long life solar products than more of these "invisible" solutions.

[DCKit]

8. Ah, but as a supplement to a system on a glass-clad skyscraper...

it could be significant.