This is the second post of Macroelectronics.org's series on thin-film solar cells. We'll talk about the production, cost, and efficiency of thin-film solar cells.
Several companies, such as Nanosolar, have now come out with rollable thin-film solar cells, which are one hundred times thinner than traditional solar cells, and can also be made one hundred times faster than traditional manufacture procedure. In making rollable thin-film solar cells, a type of ink that is able to conduct electricity is printed on a thin, conductive substrate. This new technology is superior to the traditional solar cells not only because it is far cheaper to produce given the low cost of the ink and the substrate, but also because it produces more energy and power than traditional solar cells.
Companies such as Nanosolar have been on the cutting edge of this technology. Nanosolar's technology is based upon their "7 Areas of Innovation" including:
Several companies, such as Nanosolar, have now come out with rollable thin-film solar cells, which are one hundred times thinner than traditional solar cells, and can also be made one hundred times faster than traditional manufacture procedure. In making rollable thin-film solar cells, a type of ink that is able to conduct electricity is printed on a thin, conductive substrate. This new technology is superior to the traditional solar cells not only because it is far cheaper to produce given the low cost of the ink and the substrate, but also because it produces more energy and power than traditional solar cells.Companies such as Nanosolar have been on the cutting edge of this technology. Nanosolar's technology is based upon their "7 Areas of Innovation" including:
- Nanoparticle Ink
- Semiconductor Base for Printing
- Conductive Substrate
- Roll-to-Roll Processing
- Low-Cost Top Electrode
- Sorted Cell Assembly
- High Current Panel
More detail information can be found here on their "7 Areas of Innovation." Convenience and efficiency may be a great advantage to Nanosolar's thin-film technology, what also adds to the benefits of their product is the durability: the solar cells are able to withstand temperatures from -40 to +85 degrees Celcius, allowing them to be used virtually anywhere sunshine is plentiful.
Check out the following KQED video on Nanosolar:
(via Wikipedia & Nanosolar; Photo and video Courtesy: Nanosolar, KQED)
15 August 2007
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have designed a battery that can impact mobile, personal, and medical devices if put into mass production.Dubbed the "nano-battery," it can withstand extreme temperatures (300°F to -100°F), and its production is printable: 90% of the material is made of cellulose (paper material) with the remainder composed of carbon nanotubes. This gives the battery much flexibility without any damage to it. It can run on human blood and sweat if necessary, while also running as a conventional battery, with long, steady power, or as a supercapacitator, with high bursts of energy.
Because of its flexibility and lightweight properties, nano-batteries can be easily molded and shaped. It would be possible to simply utilize them in cars, airplanes, and boats as panels or doors of the vehicles. Also, because of the cellulose and lack of toxic chemicals, the device is environmentally safe.
For details, check out their publication “Flexible Energy Storage Devices Based on Nanocomposite Paper” in the Aug. 13, 2007 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Labels: Battery, Nano, Printable electronics
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