PLASTIC SOLAR CELL{ SOLAR TECHNOLOGY }

WHAT IS SOLAR CELL? The basic idea of a solar cell is to convert

light energy into electrical energy. The energy of light is transmitted by photons, small packets or quantums of light. Electrical energy is stored in electromagnetic fields, which in turn can make a current of electrons flow. Thus a solar cell converts light, a flow of photons, to electric current, a flow of electrons.

BASIC PRINCIPLE

Process

Basically a solar cell is made up of silicon based layer called PV cells in which it absorbs heat from the sun and produces energy.

This energy from the sun excites the electrons to flow freely between the cells and this produces current and is absorbed by the conductor around the cells.

WORKING OF CONVENTIONAL SOLAR CELL

WORLDWIDE CUMULATIVE CAPACITY SINCE 1992

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOLAR CELLS Amorphous Silicon solar cell  Biohybrid solar cell Plastic solar cell Quantum dot solar cell Multi-junction solar cell etc

INFRARED PLASTIC SOLAR CELL

Scientists have invented a plastic solar cell that can turn the suns power into electrical energy even on a cloudy day

The new material uses nanotechnology and absorbs the infrared part of the sun’s energy. It uses the 1st generation solar cells which absorbs energy efficiently.

WORKING OF PLASTIC SOLAR CELL The solar cell consists of

nanorods dispersed in the cell and present in a layer between electrodes. Nanorods are made of cadmium selenide having diameter 7 nm and length 60 nm and is coated by aluminum and heat is absorbed by the cells and are used to move electrons freely forming current.

Solar energy given to earth is 10000 times than what we consume and if we use 1% of it we can overcome our power.

IMPROVEMENTS Some of the obvious improvements include better light

collection and concentration, which already are employed in commercial solar cells.

Significant improvements can be made in the plastic, nanorods mix, too, ideally packing the nanorods closer together, perpendicular to the electrodes, using minimal polymer, or even none-the nanorods would transfer their electrons more directly to the electrode.

In their first-generation solar cells, the nanorods are jumbled up in the polymer, leading to losses of current via electron-hole recombination and thus lower efficiency.

They also hope to tune the nanorods to absorb different colors to span the spectrum of sunlight. An eventual solar cell has three layers each made of nanorods that absorb at different wavelength.

APPLICATIONS Silicon possesses some nano scale properties.

This is being exploited in the development of a super thin disposable solar panel poster which could offer the rural dwellers a cheap and an alternative source of power.

A hydrogen powered car painted with the film could potentially convert energy into electricity to continually recharge the car’s battery.

Other uses of plastic solar cell

LIMITATIONS The biggest problem with this is

cost effectiveness. But that could change with new material. But chemists have found a way to make cheap plastic solar cells flexible enough to paint onto any surface and potentially able to provide electricity for wearable electronics or other low power devices.

       Relatively shorter life span when continuously exposed to sunlight.

      Could possibly require higher maintenance and constant monitoring.

CONCLUSION Plastic solar cells help in exploiting the

infrared radiation from the suns rays. They are more effective when compared to the conventional solar cell. The major advantage that they can even work on cloudy days. They are more compact and less bulkier.

At present, cost is a major draw back, it is bound be solved in the future

oAs explained earlier, if the solar farms can become a reality, it could possibly solve the planets problem of depending too much on the fossil fuels, without a chance of even polluting the environment.

Thank you