Georgia Institute of Technology and Purdue University
researchers have developed efficient solar cells using natural
substrates derived from plants such as trees.
Added advantage, the researchers have managed to recycle them in water by fabricating them on cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) substrates, thus minimizing e-waste.
The organic solar cells reach a power conversion efficiency of 2.7 per cent. The CNC substrates on which the solar cells are fabricated are optically transparent, enabling light to pass through them before being absorbed by a very thin layer of an organic semiconductor.
During the recycling process, the solar cells are simply immersed in water at room temperature. Within only minutes, the CNC substrate dissolves and the solar cell can be separated easily into its major components
To date, organic solar cells have been typically fabricated on glass or plastic. Neither is easily recyclable, and petroleum-based substrates are not very eco-friendly.
“Our next steps will be to work toward improving the power conversion efficiency over 10 percent, levels similar to solar cells fabricated on glass or petroleum-based substrates, by optimising the optical properties of the solar cell’s electrode” said Kippelen, an Engineering Professor.
Added advantage, the researchers have managed to recycle them in water by fabricating them on cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) substrates, thus minimizing e-waste.
The organic solar cells reach a power conversion efficiency of 2.7 per cent. The CNC substrates on which the solar cells are fabricated are optically transparent, enabling light to pass through them before being absorbed by a very thin layer of an organic semiconductor.
During the recycling process, the solar cells are simply immersed in water at room temperature. Within only minutes, the CNC substrate dissolves and the solar cell can be separated easily into its major components
To date, organic solar cells have been typically fabricated on glass or plastic. Neither is easily recyclable, and petroleum-based substrates are not very eco-friendly.
“Our next steps will be to work toward improving the power conversion efficiency over 10 percent, levels similar to solar cells fabricated on glass or petroleum-based substrates, by optimising the optical properties of the solar cell’s electrode” said Kippelen, an Engineering Professor.
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