Power from Paint

1
Power from Paint

• The Nano-Future of Solar Cells

Alex Landau Doug MacDuff Eric Arnon
2
The Solar Status Quo

• Photons separate electrons and electron holes in
  a silicon medium, creating voltage through a
  difference in charges
• Photons transfer their energy to electrons and to
  heat

3
Problems with Silicon

• Silicon solar cells are fragile
• Cells are expensive to produce, and must be
  manufactured in clean rooms
• Only one electron is excited per photon, limiting
  maximum efficiency to about 35 (typical
  commercial silicon solar cells have efficiencies
  around 14)
• Only absorbs certain frequencies of light

4
The Nanorod Alternative

• Nanorods made of CdSe absorb the light and
  transfer the electrons and holes to plastic and
  aluminum electrodes

• These inorganic semiconductors are attached to
  the electrodes by organic polymers

5
Advantages of Nanorods

• The new materials are flexible and more durable
  bendable or even paint-on solar cells will be
  possible
• Nanorod solar cells can be produced in normal
  factories instead of clean rooms
• These cells will be cost-effective once an
  efficiency of 10 is reached

6
Maximizing Efficiency

• Nanotechnology can surpass the practical limit of
  35 efficiency for silicon cells
• Energy absorbed depends on the type of atom or
  the size of the nanoparticle

• Varying nanorod or quantum dot sizes can capture
  a wider variety of photons for a greater
  efficiency

7
Whats a nanocell going to do for me?

• With flexible organic substrates, solar cells
  could be attached or painted almost anywhere,
  even in clothing
• Cheap, long-lasting cells make solar cells more
  viable for personal use
• Solar cells covering the Sahara Desert could
  supply the worlds energy needs
• Makes hydrogen cars more feasible

8
Bibliography

• Conventional solar cell diagram
  http//service.semic.sanyo.co.jp/semi/amorton_e/so
  lar_cell.htm
• Nanorod solar cell diagram http//www.berkeley.ed
  u/news/media/releases/2002/03/solar/nanorod.gif
• Quantum dot spectral diagram http//www.evidentte
  ch.com/qdot-definition/quantum-dot-introduction.ph
  p
• http//www.worldchanging.com/archives/002774.html
• http//www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,441826,00.asp
  
• Helpful information on all things nano
  http//en.wikipedia.org/