Organic Photovoltaic Solar Systems
17 June 2009 | Solar Power | 2 Comments
Plastic solar cellsare first likely to be commercialised for low-power, consumer applications, which currently take up about 10% of the market. In this they will compete with amorphous silicon(a-Si), and to a lesser extent with energing thin film technologies. Plastic solar cells may offer advantages over a-Si, in lower production cost, in case of deposition onto flexible substrates or as conformal coatings on to building materials, or in colour, and these may open up new areas in the consumer photovoltaics market.
Examples of applications might be power supplies for displays and monitors, control electronics, mobile communications, battery chargers, thermoelectric coolers, various consumer products, and photovoltaic windows and other architectural materials. The organic solar cell modules could be integrated into appliances or building materials. In such applications the module would be designed for the specific power output required and would consist of a small number of cells in series, depending on the operating voltage required. Note that since organic solar cells deliver relatively high voltages, any given operating voltage may be achived with fewer cells than for inorganic materials. Modules would be produced directly during cell production wheather a batch or a continuous process.Cell interconnects can be integrated into the modules by etching the conductive substrate, scribing the photoactive layers and pattering the top contacts during production, much as is done for inorganic thin films. After metallisation the cell material must be encapsulated in a barrier coating to protect against moisture and oxygen, and in an outer coatind appropriate to the intended environment.
Tags: amorphous silicon, cell production, cells in series, inorganic thin films, organic solar cell modules, organic solar cells, photoactive layers, photovoltaic, photovoltaics market, Plastic solar cells, solar cell, solar cell material, thin film technologies
Sounds like the Star ship voyager from star trek using organic power cells for their ship. Nice article….fiction almost becoming reality. ….One day *s*
[...] pattering the top contacts during production, much as is done for inorganic thin films.” – MyGreenTreasure . A new type of organic cells was developed recently by Mitsubishi Corporation in [...]