Scientists develop spray-on solar cells

27 August 2014 Power Electronics / Power Management

A team of scientists at the UK’s University of Sheffield has become the first to fabricate perovskite solar cells using a spray-painting process – a discovery that could help cut the cost of solar electricity.

Efficient organometal halide perovskite-based photovoltaics were first demonstrated in 2012, and this highly promising material is gaining in popularity for solar cells as it combines high efficiency with low materials costs.

Experts from the university’s department of physics and astronomy, and department of chemical and biological engineering, have previously used the spray-painting method to produce solar cells using organic semiconductors, but using perovskite is a major step forward. The process wastes very little of the perovskite material and can be scaled to high-volume manufacturing in a way similar to applying paint to cars and graphic printing.

Lead researcher, Professor David Lidzey, said: “There is a lot of excitement around perovskite-based photovoltaics. Remarkably, this class of material offers the potential to combine the high performance of mature solar cell technologies with the low embedded energy costs of production of organic photovoltaics.”

While most solar cells are manufactured using energy intensive materials like silicon, perovskites, by comparison, require much less energy to make. By spray-painting the perovskite layer in air the team hopes the overall energy used to make a solar cell can be reduced further.

According to Lidzey, “The best certified efficiencies from organic solar cells are around 10%. Perovskite cells now have efficiencies of up to 19%. This is not so far behind that of silicon at 25% – the material that dominates the worldwide solar market.”

He explains that the perovskite devices his team has created still use similar structures to organic cells, but replace the key light absorbing layer – the organic layer – with the spray-painted perovskite. “Using a perovskite absorber instead of an organic absorber gives a significant boost in terms of efficiency,” Lidzey says. “This study advances existing work where the perovskite layer has been deposited from solution using laboratory scale techniques. It’s a significant step towards efficient, low-cost solar cell devices made using high-volume, roll-to-roll processing methods.”

Further reading:

Schneider Electric partners with Drakenstein Municipality
Schneider Electric South Africa Power Electronics / Power Management
Drakenstein Municipality, situated in Paarl in the Western Cape, is one of the first distribution utilities globally to implement Schneider Electric’s green, SF6-free RM AirSeT switchgear with pure air technology and native digital connectivity.

Read more...

---

E-Mobility: navigate safety, interoperability and conformance
Concilium Technologies Power Electronics / Power Management
Although the concept of electric vehicles is not a new one, the market remains in its infancy, and is not well-regulated or fully operational. This presents a number of challenges for manufacturers throughout the EV and EVSE ecosystem.

Read more...

---

Webinar: Decarbonise with industrial drives
Power Electronics / Power Management
Infineon's TRENCHSTOP IGBT7 and CoolSiC technologies increase the efficiency of your industrial drive design, ultimately resulting in cost savings for you, and a more sustainable future for all.

Read more...

---

Analysis of switch-mode power supply: inductor violations
Altron Arrow Editor's Choice Power Electronics / Power Management
Common switch-mode power supply (SMPS) design errors are discussed, and their appropriate rectification is specified, with details on complications that arise with the power stage design of DC-DC switching regulators.

Read more...

---

Compact PCB-mount SMPS
RS South Africa Power Electronics / Power Management
Traco Power’s 5W PCB-mount switch mode power supply (SMPS) offers high efficiency, and is well suited for a variety of applications in the automation, electronics, electrical and mechanical industries.

Read more...

---

AC-DC brick PSU
Conical Technologies Power Electronics / Power Management
These PSUs have a typical efficiency of up to 92%, and a power factor value of up to 0,99. They are available in 12, 24, 28, 48 and 54 V output versions.

Read more...

---

5 kW switching PSU range
Conical Technologies Power Electronics / Power Management
Mornsun has released a new switching power supply range, the LMF5000-25Bxx, which has a 5000 W capacity, and features universal AC input configurations.

Read more...

---

Reliable charging range
Current Automation Power Electronics / Power Management
Whether you’re powering essential electronics, keeping emergency equipment operational, or maintaining the performance of critical machinery, the need for dependable charging solutions cannot be overstated.

Read more...

---

Microchip expands its mSiC solutions
EBV Electrolink Power Electronics / Power Management
The highly integrated 3,3 kV XIFM plug-and-play digital gate driver is designed to work out-of-the-box with high-voltage SiC-based power modules to simplify and speed system integration.

Read more...

---

Dual-port USB-C power delivery solution
Altron Arrow Power Electronics / Power Management
Infineon’s CYPD7272-68LQXQ is the tray packing option of the company’s dual-port USB-C power delivery solution and features an integrated dual-port USB-C PD + DC-DC controller.

Read more...

---