revmodo.com
22 Aug 2012
We can preach about the environmental benefits of solar power all we want, but until it costs the same as fossil fuels, we're not going to see energy companies tearing up oil fields to erect solar farms.
The good news is that the quest for cheaper solar power just took a giant leap forward: Chinese researchers set a new world record in power conversion efficiency for polymer-based organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. The 9.31% efficiency was certified by the Newport Technology & Application Center's Photovoltaic Lab in Long Beach, Calif.
Unlike traditional, rigid solar cells, organic solar cells are made from flexible polymer. Instead of bulky wires, polymer solar cells use organic electronics, a branch of electronics that deals with conductive organic polymers or small organic molecules. As a result, OPV is lightweight, has a better performance in low light and is easier to manufacture, making it a potentially cost-effective renewable energy technology on par with current conventional energy technologies. Organic solar cells do not require exotic and toxic materials, so the final solar cell is nontoxic, an important factor for end-of-lifetime disposal or recycling.
Read More…
1 comments:
hey. that is quite an impressive blog post. thanks for sharing such a detailed and inspiring post. do keep on posting more updates.
Solar Dock
Post a Comment