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Highly transparent solar cells found to generate power
1000x more efficiently
By
Staff Writer, The
Brighter Side of News
May
20, 2023
Researchers coated various thin
metals onto the ITO and inserted a thin layer of Tungsten Oxide
between the coated ITO and the tungsten disulfide. (CREDIT: luchschenF)
Solar panels have long been criticized for their appearance, with some
people arguing that the large, opaque panels spoil the look of homes
and businesses. But now, a group of researchers has developed a highly
transparent solar cell using a 2D atomic sheet that could change the
perception of solar energy. These near-invisible solar cells have an
average visible transparency of 79%, which means that they can
potentially be placed almost anywhere, including building windows, car
front panels, and even human skin.
Scientists have been trying to develop transparent solar cells for
years, but suitable materials have not existed until now. To create
the solar cell, the researchers controlled the contact barriers
between indium tin oxide (ITO), one of the most widely used
transparent conducting oxides, and a monolayer tungsten disulfide.
They coated various thin metals onto the ITO and inserted a thin layer
of tungsten oxide between the coated ITO and the tungsten disulfide.
The way in which we formed the solar cell resulted in a power
conversion efficiency over 1000 times that of a device using a normal
ITO electrode," said Toshiaki Kato, the corresponding author of the
paper and associate professor at Tohoku University's Graduate School
of Engineering.
To test the potential applications of the transparent solar cells, the
researchers integrated them into a module and placed it on a glass
window. The module maintained high transparency, and the researchers
measured its performance using a solar simulator.
The results indicated that the module generated a power density of
approximately 13 milliwatts per square centimeter, which is
comparable to other transparent solar cell technologies.
The group did not stop there. They also explored how their solar
cell could be expanded for use in an actual solar panel.
We discovered the appropriate design modifications needed to avoid
an unexpected voltage drop that accompanies increasing the device
area," Kato said.
The Potential Impact of Transparent Solar Cells
Transparent solar cells have the potential to revolutionize the energy
industry by expanding the ways in which solar energy can be used.
Traditional solar panels are limited to rooftops and other large, flat
surfaces, but transparent solar cells could be integrated into
buildings and vehicles, as well as other surfaces that are currently
not being utilized for energy production.
Highly
Transparent Solar Cell with 2D Atomic Sheet Successfully Fabricated.
(CREDIT: Toshiaki Kato)
The potential applications of transparent solar
cells are vast. For example, they could be used to create a new
generation of energy-efficient buildings that generate their own power
while also allowing natural light to enter. They could also be used to
power electric vehicles, which would increase their range and make
them more sustainable.
Additionally, transparent solar cells could be
used in a variety of consumer products, such as smartphones and other
electronic devices. This could eliminate the need for chargers and
power banks, as the devices would be able to charge themselves from
ambient light.
(a) Schematic illustration of device structure
and ideal optimal band structure for the transparent Schottky solar
cell. (b) Images of samples for WF and AVT measurement. ITO was
sputtered on quartz substrate and a thin metal film was coated on the
top of ITO. (c) Transparency spectra of quartz, ITO/quartz, and Mx/ITO
on quartz (Mx = Ni1, Ni5, Fe1, Fe2, Al1, Al5, Cu1, Ag1, Au1, and Au5).
(d) Plot of WF for Mx/ITO measured by PYS. Inset in (d) shows typical
photoemission features of Ni1/ITO and fitting curve to obtain the WF.
(e) Scatters of transparency and work function of tested Mx/ITO.
(CREDIT: Scientific Reports)
Furthermore, transparent solar cells could have a
significant impact on the environment by reducing the need for
traditional energy sources. Solar energy is a clean and renewable
source of energy that does not produce greenhouse gas emissions, which
contribute to climate change.
The Development of Transparent Solar Cells
The development of transparent solar cells has been a long and
challenging process, with researchers facing numerous obstacles along
the way.
An optical image of a highly-transparent
solar cell fabricated with a 2D atomic sheet. (CREDIT: Toshiaki Kato)
One of the main challenges has been
finding a suitable material for the solar cell. The material needs to
be transparent, conductive, and able to convert light into
electricity. The material also needs to be stable and durable, as it
will be exposed to the elements.
Researchers have tried a variety of materials, including organic and
inorganic materials, but most have been either too opaque or not
efficient enough to produce meaningful amounts of electricity.
The use of 2D materials, such as graphene and
tungsten disulfide, has shown promise in recent years. These materials
are thin and transparent, and they have the ability to conduct
electricity. However, they are also fragile and can be difficult to
work with.
Schematic illustration of spatially
resolved photoexcited charge-carrier mapping for the device with
asymmetric electrodes: Cu/ITO and Ni/ITO. Images of the device under a
microscope. Photocurrent line scan of the device. Integrated
photocurrent based on photocurrent in as the black line; the red line
comes from inverse treatment of the y-axis, which represents the
potential profile in the conduction band. (CREDIT: Scientific Reports)
The potential applications of these
near-invisible solar cells are numerous. They could be integrated into
building windows to generate electricity without obstructing views or
changing the appearance of the building. This could be particularly
useful for skyscrapers, which have a large surface area of glass
windows. Transparent solar cells could also be integrated into the
front panels of cars to provide power for onboard electronics or even
the electric motor.
Another potential application is in wearable
technology. The near-invisible solar cells could be integrated into
clothing or accessories to provide power for small electronics such as
smartwatches or fitness trackers. They could even be integrated into
human skin to power medical devices such as pacemakers or glucose
monitors.
The researchers acknowledge that there are still challenges to be
addressed before these transparent solar cells can be widely adopted.
Details of their research were published in the
journal Scientific Reports.
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