EINDHOVEN University of Technology (TU/) researchers are keen to develop solar cells with an efficiency of more than 65% by utilising nanotechnologies.
Current thin-film solar cells (type III/V) have an efficiency of about 40%, but they are very expensive and can only be applied as solar panels on satellites. By using mirror systems that focus 1,000 times, they can now also be deployed on Earth in a cost-effective manner, according to the Eindhoven researchers.
They say that 65% is achievable within a decade and that this would lead to a dramatic reduction in the cost of cell-based electricity generation – perhaps 50% or so.
The proposed approach is to utilise nanotechnology in combination with the use of concentrated sunlight through mirror systems.
They say that, by “stacking” so-called nanowires, it becomes possible to stack a number of sub-cells (junctions). In this process, each sub-cell converts one colour of sunlight optimally to electricity. The highest yield reported until now in a nanowire solar cell is 8.4%.
The Eindhoven team suggests that wrapping a protective shell around the nanowires is the critical step towards attaining the same efficiency with nanowire solar cells as with thin-film.