A group of researchers has found a new way to develop photovoltaic solar panels that let light through. These transparent solar panels could start a new energy revolution as they can be placed in offices, homes, factories and more buildings.
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By simply replacing the windows, transparent solar panels can continue to produce clean and green energy while taking up minimal space. Researchers have succeeded in developing organic solar panels with a new easily scalable method for mass production.
“In principle, we can now scale translucent organic solar cells to two meters by two meters, which brings our windows much closer to reality,” said Stephen Forrest, Professor of Electrical Engineering and author of the study, published in the journal Joule. said.
The vast majority of solar cells used today are made of silicon. This causes the panel to be completely opaque. The major obstacle to the widespread adoption of organic solar panels has so far been impossible to scale production for it. Lasers used to etch micron-scale electrical connections on silicon scales cannot be used in organic cells as they can easily damage plastic light absorbers.
Seeking a solution, the Forrest team developed a multi-step peel patterning method capable of making micron-scale connections. Finely patterned pieces of plastic were placed between the organic and metal layers and then peeled to create extremely fine electrical connections between the cells. And Forrest’s research team has succeeded in developing solar cells with a record efficiency of 10 percent and a lifespan of 30 years.
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