Talk about sparkling ideas …
Scientists working at the Sandia National Laboratories, a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, have developed what they describe as tiny glitter-sized photovoltaic cells that could potentially revolutionize the way solar energy is collected and used. That’s because the tiny cells could, for instance, turn a person into a walking solar battery charger if they were fastened to flexible substrates molded around unusual shapes, such as clothing.
The solar particles, fabricated of crystalline silicon, hold the potential for a variety of new applications. They are expected eventually to be less expensive and have greater efficiencies than current photovoltaic collectors that are pieced together with 6-inch- square solar wafers.
The cells are fabricated using microelectronic and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) techniques common to today’s electronic foundries.
“Eventually units could be mass-produced and wrapped around unusual shapes for building-integrated solar, tents and maybe even clothing,†said Sandia lead investigator, Greg Nielson. This would make it possible for hikers or military personnel in the field to recharge batteries for phones, cameras and other electronic devices as they walk or rest.
Besides, these microengineered panels could have circuits imprinted that would help perform other functions customarily left to large-scale construction with its attendant need for field construction design and permits.
“Photovoltaic modules made from these microsized cells for the rooftops of homes and warehouses could have intelligent controls, inverters and even storage built in at the chip level. Such an integrated module could greatly simplify the cumbersome design, bid, permit and grid integration process that our solar technical assistance teams see in the field all the timeâ€, said Sandia field engineer Vipin Gupta.
For large-scale power generation, “one of the biggest scale benefits is a significant reduction in manufacturing and installation costs compared with current PV techniquesâ€, said Sandia researcher Murat Okandan.
Part of the potential cost reduction comes about because microcells require relatively little material to form well-controlled and highly efficient devices. From 14 to 20 micrometers thick (a human hair is approximately 70 micrometers thick), they are 10 times thinner than conventional 6-inch-by-6-inch brick-sized cells, yet perform at about the same efficiency.
The super small size of the cells gives them other advantages. “The shade tolerance of our units to overhead obstructions is better than conventional PV panels,†said Nielson, “because portions of our units not in shade will keep sending out electricity where a partially shaded conventional panel may turn off entirely.â€
Because flexible substrates can be easily fabricated, high-efficiency PV for ubiquitous solar power becomes more feasible, said Okandan.
The researchers say that other possible applications for the technology include satellites and remote sensing.
To find out more about this exciting new technology and its more technical details, go here.
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