Current solar cell modules – photovoltaics (PV) - are silicon-based, and although they offer high conversion efficiency, they are expensive to make. A key aim of the solar electricity market is to create solar cells which keep manufacturing costs low while retaining high power efficiency.
Organic material based solar cells are beginning to show promise as a low cost source of solar energy.
The three year project, led by Professor Ravi Silva, Director of the Advanced Technology Institute, aims to improve the organic technologies by incorporating inorganic nano-scale materials.
Carbon nanotubes, which are nano-scale structures, can be incorporated into organic cells enhancing their performance greatly, according to Professor Silva.
The University of Surrey already holds a number of patents in developing hybrid systems for practical applications, including solar cells and solid state lighting.
Find the light
Meet a Role Model doing research into photovoltaics.
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Date Published: January 07, 2009
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