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3d Solar Cell Tech Profile

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12 views

3d Solar Cell Tech Profile

Uploaded by

anubhabparida12
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Fibre and 3D Solar Cell Project

Proposal
Develop a more efficient solar cell by utilising 3D geometry to capture and convert UV light to an energy source.

Problem
Photovoltaic technologies that are currently available on the market have low efficiency and therefore require a large
surface area for sufficient yield.

Current solutions
Conventional semiconductor based solar cells and alternative dye sensitized solar cells have a two-dimensional design and
thus require a large light capture area to generate a sufficient amount of electrical power.

Proposed solution
The Monash Solar Cell group has recently developed a fibre form solar cell using optical glass fibres. This device is a dye-
sensitized solar cell and uses nanocrystalline titanium dioxide as the working electrode. The important concept that
distinguishes the invention from the others in prior arts is that illumination of the cell in the Monash invention occurs through
the core of the fibre and light capture occurs through a collection device on top of the fibre.

Above: Schematic of the proposed 3D solar cell prototype.

Advantages
With the glass fibre solar cell, we can solve a major problem with flat panel dye sensitized solar cells, which relates to
difficulties in sealing the cell and the corrosion of electrical contacts and seals. The advantage of the 3D device design is
that conventional and well established battery technology can be used to construct these devices.

The 3D fibre solar cells are expected to allow the remote use of solar power to generate electricity (i.e. for underground and
deep water applications). It is envisaged that to produce the same amount of electricity, the 3D solar cells would have
advantages of smaller size, greater mobility, longer life time, more robust in structure and lower production cost over the
conventional flat panel silicon and dye sensitized solar cells.

www.monash.edu
ABN 12 377 614 012 CRICOS Provider #00008C
Value proposition
o Generation of power at point of use
o Provides for greater productivity at reduced cost
o Compact design compatible with existing battery technology
o Increase in conversion efficiency allowing a viable alternate renewable energy source

Research & Development


The 3D cell structure is only at the initial stage of conceptual design. The principle of fibre solar cells has been proven
under the condition that light is illuminated from the side of the fibre.

Further R&D is required -

Tasks Outcomes
Proof of principle for the 3D cell design. To prove the 3D cell design principle, it requires
experiments of photovoltaic measurement for solar cells
that are consisted of fibre electrode arrays to which the
light is illuminated only from one end of the fibres.
Specific work involved include transparent conductive
coatings of the fibres, forming of fibre electrodes,
arrangement of fibres to expose only the ends of the
fibres to the light source, assembly of testing cells,
photovoltaic measurements.

Preparation of examples and generation of new IP In a compacted 3D box and under high light intensity
for patenting. illumination, it is envisaged that the 3D cell may operate
at a much higher temperature environment than the 2D
device. Work will be carried out to test the electrolyte,
dye, semiconductor nano-electrode and conductive ITO
coatings that have been used in the 2D cells for their
performance at high temperature and under the 3D cell
condition. It is likely that some of these materials may
not suit the 3D cell application, so that new materials will
have to be developed. Experimental examples will be
needed at the PCT stage of the provisional patents.

Assembly of a 3D prototype model. To produce a 3D prototype solar cell model, some


important technical parameters must be understood,
including the fibre length, gaps between fibre electrodes,
fibre diameter, the amount of fibres in a confined cell,
thickness of the semiconductor nano TiO2 film, light
leakage and possible methods to suppress the leakage,
solar concentrator and its effect on cell performance etc.

Further Information

Professor Leone Spiccia


School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science
Phone: +61 3 990 54526
Email: [email protected]

Professor Yi-Bing
Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Phone: +61 3 9905 4930
Email: [email protected]
www.monash.edu
ABN 12 377 614 012 CRICOS Provider #00008C

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