Researchers develop transparent solar cell with world's top generating capability

By Park Sae-jin Posted : June 28, 2017, 17:45 Updated : June 28, 2017, 17:45

[Courtesy of Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells]



As part of a desperate search for a new solution to generate clean energy, labs worldwide have eyed on transparent solar cells but little progress has been seen because of low efficiency. More transparent it gets, less efficient it becomes.

Now, South Korean researchers led by Kim Joon-dong, a professor at Incheon National University's School of Electrical Engineering, reported a breakthrough by developing a solar cell with over 80 percent transparency that looks like a glass window. More encouraging is that it has a larger generating capacity than previous inventions.

"The newly-developed transparent solar cell can generate up to four times more than conventional transparent solar cells," Kim told Aju News on Wednesday. "The solar cells can be attached to the exterior of a building or a car. It will generate electricity immediately."

Previously, transparent solar cells with over 80 percent transparency were developed by American companies and research centers. They managed to convert about two percent of solar energy into electricity, but the output was not enough to be used for everyday living environments. Some Japanese firms also claimed to have developed cells with over 22 percent efficiency, but they were not so transparent.

Kim's solar cell, the size of a five-inch smartphone, generates electricity with eight percent efficiency and is powerful enough to fully charge an ordinary smartphone in five hours. "It is clear like anti-UV (ultraviolet) coated glasses used in ordinary buildings."

Instead of glass, Kim's team used plastic to lower the transparency of solar panels down to 80 percent. Although the panels are not as clear as normal glass panels, they do not look different from anti-UV coated glasses.

In normal cases, conventional solar cells made of glass requires a large space. Sometimes large field areas are cleared of trees and rocks to house huge solar panels.

"To be honest, conventional solar cells are not exactly green," Kim said. "But our new cells do not need to harm any environment as they can be installed on any surface."

Also, the transparent panels absorb up to 90 percent of UV light, making it ideal for controlling the interior temperature of a building in summer. The team's research data can be seen in the June 2017 issue of the scientific journal, "Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells".

Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com

 
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