NIST announces breakthrough in flexible photovoltaics

e14news — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 23:35:23 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by e14news on 10/6/2021 11:35:23 PM

Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) report that a new class of cheap, flexible solar power cells are a step closer to completion.

Organic photovoltaics use organic molecules to capture sunlight and convert it into electricity and have been investigated in recent years as a potential replacement for rigid silicon cells.

The latest research from the team at NIST provides a powerful new measurement strategy for organic photovoltaics that reveals ways to influence the way they form.

By applying X-ray absorption measurements to the film interfaces, they discovered that the electrical properties of the interface change, giving the light-generated photocurrent more opportunities to reach the proper electrodes.

"We've identified some key parameters needed to optimize what happens at both edges of the film, which means the industry will have a strategy to optimise the cell's overall performance," commented NIST's David Germack.

NIST recently awarded new grants totalling $55 million (£33.3 million) to four US universities to support the construction of new scientific research facilities.