Paper-thin solar cells? MIT Research Institute: 18 times more efficient, less than one hundredth of the original weight

When you go out, do you feel anxious about using electricity?

Paper-thin solar cells

Have you seen it?

Now, a research team has done it!

Look like this↓

This is an ultra-thin solar cell developed by a research team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the entire structure is only 2 to 3 microns thick.

Traditional solar cells are bulky, like a thick plate↓

And this ultra-thin solar battery is not simple! MIT researchers broke with convention and developed a scalable manufacturing technique to produce this ultrathin, lightweight solar cell.

Not only thinner, but also very flexible! Roll, roll, pull ~

According to the test, after repeated curling and unfolding 500 times, the battery is still intact.

In simple terms, ultra-thin solar cells are spraying various materials and solar cell layers on a thin film carrier.

The MIT team coated a sheet of plastic with a layer of parylene a few microns thick. Based on this, printable inks made of various materials are deposited on the different solar cell layers.

Using semiconductor ink printed circuit technology ↓

Electrodes are deposited onto thin substrates using conventional screen printing processes↓

Finally, a composite fabric called Dyneema, made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers sandwiched between polyester sheets, can protect the solar modules from tearing~

The specific process is to apply a few microns of glue on the edge of the finished solar cell, and then contact Dyneema to "tear" the solar film to complete the transfer.

MIT's solar cells have a power density of 370 W/kg and a weight of 0.1 kg/square meter. Generates 18 times more electricity per kilogram than conventional solar cells.

In order to facilitate comparison, the researchers also presented the relevant data of traditional solar cells:

Commercial silicon has a power density of 20 W/kg and a weight of 10.7 kg/m2;

The cadmium telluride thin-film solar panel on glass substrate has a power density of 13 W/kg and a weight of 14 kg/m2.

Thin-film solar cells from companies such as First Solar are indeed lighter, but they are still mounted on glass panels, so the resulting modules become as heavy as conventional modules.

Vladimir Bulović, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at MIT, said reducing the weight of solar cells allows manufacturers to make larger solar panels and greatly reduces installation costs.

It is understood that this ultra-thin solar cell can not only replace traditional solar panels, but also can be installed on the surface of any object.

For example, it is used on the canvas of a sailboat to make it a power battery. wow~ so cool

It is also a good choice to use it on inflatable tents. When natural disasters come, power supply can be guaranteed. Don't worry about running out of power

With such solar cells, any surface can generate electricity, especially useful in remote areas and disaster relief operations.

 It is worth mentioning that the research team also conducted more extensive tests to create a lightweight encapsulation layer to extend the life of the battery, keep it safe and durable.

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