Solar cells made from common materials

Solar cells for everyone
Courtesy Dominic
Solar cells produce less than 1/1000 of the Earth's electricity. This is mainly because they are expensive and are made from rare, hard to obtain materials.
An IBM research team, managed by David Mitzi, is working on photovoltaic cells that are made from common materials.

The new solar cells are also cheaper to manufacture, using a “printing” technique that uses a hydrazine solution containing copper and tin with nanoparticles of zinc dispersed within it. The solution is then spin-coated and heat treated in the presence of selenium or sulfur vapor. PhysOrg

9.6% Efficiency

This new material, called kesterite, was 6.8% efficient in 2009. IBM increased the efficiency to 9.8% and is planning to increase the efficiency above 11 per cent, which is equal to or better than the traditional solar cells.

Abstract of published paper: High-Efficiency Solar Cell with Earth-Abundant Liquid-Processed Absorber Advanced Materials

Tags : thin films, photovoltaic, solar, solar-cells, kesterite, copper-zinc-tin-chalcogenides, materials, David Mitzi, IBM

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Solar panels 2.0: photo from D.O.E. via wikimedia

California attracts solar money

At last night's kickoff of the Energy Challenge, Don Shelby said there was going to be a lot of money made because of the global warming crisis. A lot of that money is going to California because of their leadership in legislating solutions to our predicament.

Watch live webcast

The largest solar event in the history of the United States is going on right now in San Jose California. You can experience the latest information as it is presented via live webcasts from about 12:15 till 6 p.m. CST(Oct 17,18).

On behalf of the Solar Electric Power Association and the Solar Energy Industries Association, we welcome you to the webcast of Solar Power 2006, the largest solar event in the history of the United States.
We have seen record levels of venture capital investment, game-changing public policies, industry-wide manufacturing expansions, and broad public interest in the context of a growing energy crisis. (Live and archived webcasts)

Silicon Valley-based SunPower Corporation

An example of what is coming is illustrated in SunPower's announcement yesterday. Gen 2 solar cells, which have a rated power output of 315 watts and boast 22 percent photovoltaic (PV) efficiency -- that's opposed to the 7% to 17% common in most commercial PV systems -- give roughly 50 percent more power per square foot of roof area than the average solar panel, using half as many panels. They will be available in the spring of next year.

Update; I also recommend readingThe Mercury News article: "Solar draws inventors, investors to valley".

Tags : California, solar power, solar, cell, photovoltaic, webcast

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