String-type polymer solar cells set a new record

String-type polymer solar cells set a new record

A series of photoactive layers are stacked and the complementary absorption spectra are made, so that a series polymer solar cell is produced. Each layer of material can absorb the solar spectrum in different frequency bands.

In order to convert sunlight into electricity, photovoltaic solar cells use organic conductive polymers, so that the absorption and conversion of light show great potential. The production of organic polymers can be carried out in large quantities and at low cost, and the photovoltaic devices produced are inexpensive, lightweight and flexible.

In the past few years, a lot of research work has been done to increase efficiency, and the use of these devices to convert sunlight into electricity has also included the development of new materials, device structures and processing technologies.

A new study, published online this week in the Nature Photonics Journal on February 12th, entitled "Spectrum-Matching Polymer Solar Cells Features Spectral Matching Low Band Gap Polymers" ( Tandem polymer solar cells featuring a spectrally matched low-band gap polymer). These researchers came from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Henry Salisbury Institute of Engineering and Applied Science and the California Institute of Nanotechnology (CNSI) from the University of California, Los Angeles, they reported. Said that they have greatly improved the performance of polymer solar cells, the resulting device has a new "series" structure, can combine multiple batteries, with different absorption bands. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of this equipment certification is 8.62%, and this world record was created in July 2011.

String polymer solar cells feature spectrally matched low band gap polymer structures

Further, the researchers integrated a new infrared-absorbing polymer material. The material was developed by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. and integrated into this device. The structure of this device is indeed widely applied. The conversion efficiency jumped to 10.6%, which is a new record. The certification body is the National Renewable Energy Laboratory under the United States Department of Energy.

Because the batteries used have different absorption bands, the string solar cells provide an effective way to use more extensive solar radiation. However, efficiency does not increase automatically because it is simply to merge the two batteries. These materials are used in series batteries and must be compatible with each other for efficient light harvesting, the researchers said. These factors can increase efficiency. “The solar spectrum is very broad, including visible and invisible light, infrared light and ultraviolet light,” said Shuji Doi, manager of the research group at Sumitomo Chemical. “We are very excited that Sumitomo’s low-gap polymer has contributed to this new record-setting efficiency.”

“We've been doing research. Serial solar cells have only been operating for a short period of time, not as a single-junction device,” said Gang Li, a research member at the University of California Los Angeles School of Engineering and a natural consultant. • Co-author of the paper on photonics. "We have achieved such success and increased efficiency in only a short period of time. This truly reflects the great potential of tandem solar cell technology."

"Everything was done because of a very low cost wet-coating process," said Yang Yang. "Because this process is compatible with current manufacturing technologies, I expect that this technology will be commercially viable, in the near future."

This research has opened up a new direction, and polymer chemists can pursue the design of new materials for use in series polymer solar cells. In addition, it marks an important step towards commercial polymer solar cells. Yang Yang said that his team hopes to achieve 15% efficiency in the coming years.

The research funding comes from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Air Force Research Office, the Office of Naval Research and the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Nylon is a synthetic material which is the most used material in the market today.
It has a working temperature of up to 120°C.
It is fair with acids & oxidising agents, good with alkalis, and excellent with solvents.
Apertures range from 32 micron up to 1931 micron.
Main Applications for Nylon Mesh
Dry Filter bags / Sifting / Milling / Air and liquid Filtration / Automotive / Medical / Food / Pharmaceutical / White Goods / Injection Moulding / Filter Belts / Rotational Filters

Nylon Mesh

Nylon Mesh,Nylon Filter Mesh,Nylon Screen Mesh,Nylon Dust Filter Mesh

Shijiazhuang Junyangyuanyu Import & Export Trade Co., Ltd ,