PLASTIC SOLAR CELL                   

PLASTIC SOLAR CELL

The plastic solar cells use nanotechnology and contain the first solar cells able to harness the sun's invisible, infrared rays.

Plastic solar cells could one day become five more times more efficient than current solar cell technology.

The working of this type of solar cell is the same as that of conventional solar cells but these solar cells are of small size and harness all the rays from the sun's radiation.

Because of their small size and lightweight, they exhibit unusual and interesting properties.

Infrared plastic solar cell

1. Plastic solar cells can turn the sun's power into electric energy even on a cloudy day.

2. The plastic material uses nanotechnology and contains the 1stgeneration solar cells that can harness the sun’s invisible infrared rays.

3. Nanoparticles called quantum dots are combined with a polymer to make the plastic that can detect energy in the infrared

4. It uses specially designed nanoparticles called quantum dots

5. The quantum dots with a polymer to make the plastic that can detect energy in the infrared.

 

Construction of Plastic Solar Cell

The solar cell created is actually a hybrid, comprised of tiny nanorods dispersed in an organic polymer or plastic. Nanorods are made of cadmium selenide. This layer of around 200 nanometres thickness is sandwiched between electrodes. The electrodes are coated with aluminum.

 

Working Of Plastic Solar Cell

Nanorods in the plastic solar cell act like wires when they absorb light of a specific wavelength they generate an electron And electron-hole vacancy in the rod that moves around just like an electron. This electron travels the length of the rod until it is collected by the aluminum electrode. The hole is transferred to the plastic which is known as a hole carrier and conveyed to the electrode creating a current.

 

APPLICATION

DEVELOPMENT OF A SUPER-THIN DISPOSABLE SOLAR PANEL POSTER.

A HYDROGEN-POWERED CAR PAINTED WITH THE FILM COULD POTENTIALLY CONVERT ENERGY INTO ELECTRICITY TO CONTINUALLY RECHARGE THE CAR’S BATTERY.

ANY CHIP COATED IN THE MATERIAL COULD POWER CELL PHONES OR OTHER WIRELESS DEVICES.

 
ADVANTAGES

THEY ARE CONSIDERED TO BE 30% MORE EFFICIENT WHEN COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL SOLAR CELLS

TRADITIONAL SOLAR CELLS ARE BULKY PANELS. THIS IS VERY COMPACT.

FLEXIBLE ROLLER PROCESSED SOLAR CELLS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO TURN THE SUN’S POWER INTO A CLEAN, GREEN, CONSISTENT SOURCE OF ENERGY.

 

DISADVANTAGES

The biggest problem with this is cost-effectiveness. But that could change with new material. But chemists have found a way to make cheap plastic solar cells flexible enough to paint onto any surface and potentially able to provide electricity for wearable electronics or other low power devices.