Home > News > Carbon Nanotube-Based Thin Film Creates Hybrid Organic/Silicon Solar Cells
February 22nd, 2013
Carbon Nanotube-Based Thin Film Creates Hybrid Organic/Silicon Solar Cells
Abstract:
Research into improving photovoltaics (PVs) is one of the most dynamic areas of nanotechnology. The range of nanomaterials and approaches to using them for increasing the energy conversion efficiency and lowering the cost of PVs are impressive.
Quantum dots have generated some of the more attractive approaches to creating solar cells with extremely high conversion efficiencies. Even the wonder material graphene has gotten into the act recently by offering an inexpensive alternative to indium-tin-oxide (ITO) used in the electrodes of organic solar cells.
But industry adoption of nanotechnology-based solar power solutions has been rocky, epitomized by last year's bankruptcy of Konarka. Often in emerging technologies—and perhaps in the case of nano-enabled PVs—it's better not to reinvent the wheel but just figure out a way for it to roll a bit better.
Source:
spectrum.ieee.org
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