High-performance And Low-cost Solar PanelsMonday 30th of May 2011 12:45:01 AM
Scientific Argentines developed a technique to manufacture high-performance and low-cost solar panels
CONICET scientists developed a technique that opens the way for the manufacture of photovoltaic cells for high-performance and low-cost solar panels. The material used? Microcrystalline Silicon
First solar power plant of Latin America in San Juan
With the aim of promoting the development of renewable energy based on the energy of the Sun, wind and ocean currents, among other non-polluting sources, scientists from different parts of the world are struggling to develop technologies that are not only effective but also economic in order to achieve its massive use.
In that context, the doctor of physics Roberto Arce, director of engineering in materials of the Faculty of engineering chemistry of the National University of the littoral (UNL) conducts research aimed at the development of high-performance and low-cost photovoltaic cells that convert solar energy into electricity.
"The solar panels, used to generate electricity, are composed of photovoltaic cells - in general these are processes with an efficiency of the order of 10 to 20 per cent, i.e., make this percentage of the energy that reaches them from the sun into electrical energy." A half square meter solar around panel produces the electrical energy required to feed a 40 watt bulb. "However they are expensive devices and their manufacturing is relatively complex," explains Dr. Arce that he also serves as a researcher at CONICET.
More economical
A technique developed by the group in which Arce - described in the scientific journal Advances in Materials Science Research - opens the way for the development of cheaper solar panels and high performance.
Today the majority of the photovoltaic cells are composed of monocrystalline silicon. "Monocrystalline silicon is a material obtained from silicates, for example the sand used in the construction." However for crystalline silicon from this sand is required a process quite complex, involving a high energy cost. PV requirements also impose that Silicon must be purified to extreme levels, decreasing the impurity levels below of one in a million. "Moreover, the requirement to do so monocrystalline implies a special treatment", highlights Maple. And adds: "as a result of this process the photovoltaic cells prepared with these materials are among the most efficient of the known and at the moment are those that provide the best cost/benefit ratio, however they are still expensive if compared with conventional sources of energy".
For this reason, Maple and his colleagues in the area of materials of the Institute for the development of technology for the chemical industry of the UNL - CONICET studies carried out to develop more economic and high-performance cells based on Microcrystalline Silicon. "From the chemical point of view, this type of Silicon is equal to the monocrystalline silicon, it is the same element, only differs in the way that has crystallized." When an element crystallizes what makes is, on a microscopic scale, ordering its atoms on a regular basis. When we speak of a monocrystalline cell are saying that the same cell itself, which tends to be close to the 10 cm in size. It is a single crystal, i.e. If we could 'walk' on each of the atoms of the cell, we circularíamos from end to end of the cell knowing exactly the place where we find each of the atoms. When we speak of a Microcrystalline Silicon what we are saying is that the cell, consisting of a cluster of small single crystals whose size is of the order of tenths of millimetres, or even more small. The advantage of this material is that for its manufacture is not required to go through the process of crystallization to which reference was made previously and that it is considerably expensive. In addition, the cell made with this type of Silicon require a quantity of material, much smaller than the one used with monocrystalline silicon.
The group which is Maple Dr. has developed a technology that allows reaching monocrystalline grains the size mentioned without a higher energy cost, and with relatively simple technologies, and subsequently manufactured sheet of Microcrystalline Silicon. "Is currently at the stage of building structures by combining layers of different features of this Silicon in gaining a photovoltaic cell"; explained the investigator at CONICET.
In addition to the aforementioned journal, progress in this research line have been described in other publications such as Thin Solid Films and Journal of Physic, among others.
On the other hand, Maple stressed that manufacturing techniques developed with his colleagues allow that composed of Microcrystalline Silicon photovoltaic cells can be deposited on surfaces in various ways, without requiring that they are flat. "This has the advantage of facilitating the integration of the cell to virtually any object." "On the other hand, the conventional monocristalinas are flat and only allowed the manufacture of panels that have this form," he said.
Other sources of energy
There is no doubt that conventional energy, such as oil, coal and gas resources, are limited, said Maple. He added: "the projections that currently exist, based on the rate of consumption that has civilization and estimated reserves, calculated that the resources of this type will be extinguished at the end of a five decades." "This means that we have too much time to devote to the development of devices that allow us to replace conventional sources."
No less important is the consequence brought about the use of fossil fuels due to the production of gaseous pollutants that are released into the atmosphere, creating among other things famous greenhouse, stressed the investigator at CONICET. And he concluded: "The use photovoltaics, as well as other similar as wind, geothermal or the tidal have the advantage of not generating additional pollution in the process of power generation."[/ b]
Source: Agency CyTA - Instituto Leloir
CONICET scientists developed a technique that opens the way for the manufacture of photovoltaic cells for high-performance and low-cost solar panels. The material used? Microcrystalline SiliconFirst solar power plant of Latin America in San Juan
With the aim of promoting the development of renewable energy based on the energy of the Sun, wind and ocean currents, among other non-polluting sources, scientists from different parts of the world are struggling to develop technologies that are not only effective but also economic in order to achieve its massive use.
In that context, the doctor of physics Roberto Arce, director of engineering in materials of the Faculty of engineering chemistry of the National University of the littoral (UNL) conducts research aimed at the development of high-performance and low-cost photovoltaic cells that convert solar energy into electricity.
"The solar panels, used to generate electricity, are composed of photovoltaic cells - in general these are processes with an efficiency of the order of 10 to 20 per cent, i.e., make this percentage of the energy that reaches them from the sun into electrical energy." A half square meter solar around panel produces the electrical energy required to feed a 40 watt bulb. "However they are expensive devices and their manufacturing is relatively complex," explains Dr. Arce that he also serves as a researcher at CONICET.
More economical
A technique developed by the group in which Arce - described in the scientific journal Advances in Materials Science Research - opens the way for the development of cheaper solar panels and high performance.
Today the majority of the photovoltaic cells are composed of monocrystalline silicon. "Monocrystalline silicon is a material obtained from silicates, for example the sand used in the construction." However for crystalline silicon from this sand is required a process quite complex, involving a high energy cost. PV requirements also impose that Silicon must be purified to extreme levels, decreasing the impurity levels below of one in a million. "Moreover, the requirement to do so monocrystalline implies a special treatment", highlights Maple. And adds: "as a result of this process the photovoltaic cells prepared with these materials are among the most efficient of the known and at the moment are those that provide the best cost/benefit ratio, however they are still expensive if compared with conventional sources of energy".
For this reason, Maple and his colleagues in the area of materials of the Institute for the development of technology for the chemical industry of the UNL - CONICET studies carried out to develop more economic and high-performance cells based on Microcrystalline Silicon. "From the chemical point of view, this type of Silicon is equal to the monocrystalline silicon, it is the same element, only differs in the way that has crystallized." When an element crystallizes what makes is, on a microscopic scale, ordering its atoms on a regular basis. When we speak of a monocrystalline cell are saying that the same cell itself, which tends to be close to the 10 cm in size. It is a single crystal, i.e. If we could 'walk' on each of the atoms of the cell, we circularíamos from end to end of the cell knowing exactly the place where we find each of the atoms. When we speak of a Microcrystalline Silicon what we are saying is that the cell, consisting of a cluster of small single crystals whose size is of the order of tenths of millimetres, or even more small. The advantage of this material is that for its manufacture is not required to go through the process of crystallization to which reference was made previously and that it is considerably expensive. In addition, the cell made with this type of Silicon require a quantity of material, much smaller than the one used with monocrystalline silicon.
The group which is Maple Dr. has developed a technology that allows reaching monocrystalline grains the size mentioned without a higher energy cost, and with relatively simple technologies, and subsequently manufactured sheet of Microcrystalline Silicon. "Is currently at the stage of building structures by combining layers of different features of this Silicon in gaining a photovoltaic cell"; explained the investigator at CONICET.
In addition to the aforementioned journal, progress in this research line have been described in other publications such as Thin Solid Films and Journal of Physic, among others.
On the other hand, Maple stressed that manufacturing techniques developed with his colleagues allow that composed of Microcrystalline Silicon photovoltaic cells can be deposited on surfaces in various ways, without requiring that they are flat. "This has the advantage of facilitating the integration of the cell to virtually any object." "On the other hand, the conventional monocristalinas are flat and only allowed the manufacture of panels that have this form," he said.
Other sources of energy
There is no doubt that conventional energy, such as oil, coal and gas resources, are limited, said Maple. He added: "the projections that currently exist, based on the rate of consumption that has civilization and estimated reserves, calculated that the resources of this type will be extinguished at the end of a five decades." "This means that we have too much time to devote to the development of devices that allow us to replace conventional sources."
No less important is the consequence brought about the use of fossil fuels due to the production of gaseous pollutants that are released into the atmosphere, creating among other things famous greenhouse, stressed the investigator at CONICET. And he concluded: "The use photovoltaics, as well as other similar as wind, geothermal or the tidal have the advantage of not generating additional pollution in the process of power generation."[/ b]
Source: Agency CyTA - Instituto Leloir