A new solar cell has been developed that has the energy efficiencies of 6.7 percent, which rivals the best polymer-based solar cells. A team from the University of California, Santa Barbara, has developed an energy efficient, organic, small-molecule solar power cell, and industry experts say this is important progress in the field of solar power development.
The development of organic solar power cell devices undergoes deep investigation in both academic and industrial laboratories worldwide - because of their potential use in flexible and cost-effective solar power devices. These organic solar cells are similar to the silicon solar power panels that many Australians use, but are more cheap to manufacture, and can be used on more surfaces due to their flexibility and light weight.
Materials scientist Dr Chris McNeill from Monash University, Melbourne, states “If you can manufacture a module that is lightweight, efficient and low cost people will take that up … [With organic solar power cells] you don't need to do any changes to the infrastructure of the roof because you can literally roll it out, stick it on and plug it in."
Further development needs to occur in terms of ‘sizing up’ such organic solar power cells, however, as studies show that the power conversion does not remain the same when building a more commercial-size module.
