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Non-sintered, Layered Nanocrystal Photovoltaic Cells
IB-2511
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APPLICATIONS
OF TECHNOLOGY:
- Low-cost power conversion
- Solar cells
- Power supply for consumer electronic
ADVANTAGES:
- Economical colloidal synthetic approach
- Low-temperature fabrication, at atmospheric pressure, no sintering needed
- Power conversion efficiency exceeds 1.6%, high carrier mobility
- Optimized bandgap for maximum absorption
- Can be adapted to plastic substrates, for flexibility and low cost
- Earth-abundant, nontoxic materials
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ABSTRACT:
Paul Alivisatos, Cyrus Wadia, and Yue Wu of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed photovoltaic cells that offer distinct advantages over current solar technology. With a power conversion efficiency exceeding 1.6%, the new cells are produced using a novel approach - solution-phase colloidal synthesis of chalcocite (copper sulfide) nanocrystals.
The layered films of chalcocite and cadmium sulfide nanorods improve not only upon single-crystal and thin-film solar photovoltaic cells, but also on recent semiconductor nanostructure solar technology (e.g., all-inorganic, dye-sensitized, and hybrid nanocrystal-polymer composite solar cells). Semiconductor nanostructure solar cells typically have a relatively large bandgap of approximately 1.7 eV, whereas the Berkeley Lab hexagonal chalcocite nanocrystal films, which are spin-cast and monodispersed and have a bandgap of 1.26 eV, can make use of more of the solar spectrum. Moreover, they can be synthesized at temperatures as low as 150 degrees, without the need for high-temperature sintering or annealing, saving energy and substantially reducing manufacturing costs.
The nanocrystal films, on a substrate of glass, have excellent optical properties. The potential for transferring the technique to polymer substrates promises to further reduce costs for the manufacture of a lightweight, shock-resistant, and flexible power source that could be used in handheld consumer electronics. |
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STATUS:
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To learn more about licensing a technology from LBNL see http://www.lbl.gov/Tech-Transfer/licensing/index.html. |
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FOR
MORE INFORMATION:
- Wu, Y., C. Wadia, W. Ma, B. Sadtler, and A. Alivisatos, "Synthesis and Photovoltaic Application of Copper (I) Sulfide Nanocrystals," Nano Letters 8:2551-2555 (2008).
- Gur, I., N. Fromer, M. Geier, A. Alivisatos, "Air-stable all-inorganic nanocrystal solar cells processed from solution," Science 310:462-465 (2005).
- Yong, K., et al., "Shape control of CdS nanocrystals in one-pot synthesis," J. Phys. Chem. C 111 (6):2447-2458 (2007).
- Gill, W. and R. Bube, "Photovoltaic Properties of CU2S-CdS heterojunctions," Journal of Applied Physics 41:3731-3738 (1970).
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REFERENCE
NUMBER: IB-2511 |
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SEE
THESE OTHER BERKELEY LAB TECHNOLOGIES IN THIS FIELD:
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CONTACT:
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Technology
Transfer Department
E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
MS 90-1070
Berkeley, CA 94720
(510) 486-6467 FAX: (510) 486-6457
TTD@lbl.gov |
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