flexible solar

New material for 'bendable' solar cells

EVANSTON, Ill. (UPI) -- A new material for solar cells -- atransparent conductor made of carbon nanotubes -- could revolutionizethe way solar power is harvested, U.S. scientists say.

The material could be an affordable and flexible alternative tocurrent technology, which is mechanically brittle and reliant on arelatively rare mineral, a release by Northwestern University saidTuesday.

Northwestern researchers said the material's mechanical flexibilitycould allow solar cells to be integrated into fabrics and clothing,creating portable energy for everything from personal electronics tomilitary operations.

Solar cells require a transparent conductor layer that allows light topass into the cell and electricity to pass out, so the conductor mustbe both electrically conductive and optically transparent. Indium tinoxide, the material predominantly in use currently, is mechanicallybrittle and relies on the relatively rare and expensive elementindium.

The Northwestern team has created an alternative to indium tin oxideusing single-walled carbon nanotubes, tiny, hollow cylinders of carbonjust one nanometer in diameter.

Because carbon nanotubes are flexible they could lead to newapplications in solar cells such as military tents incorporating theflexible solar cells into tent material to provide power directly forsoldiers in the field, or the cells could be integrated into clothing,backpacks or purses for wearable electronics.

"With this mechanically flexible technology, it's much easier toimagine integrating solar technology into everyday life, rather thancarrying around a large, inflexible solar cell," materials scientistMark C. Hersam said.

 

Copyright 2011 by United Press International

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