Free Solar Pro - dye sensitized solar cells
New Solar Cell Will Save Money
New Zealand Researchers Create New "Natural" Cell
Solar cells can be very expensive, mainly because of
the silicon that is used to make them.
Silicon, itself, is not expensive, but making it available for solar
cells can cost a lot. A group of
researchers in New Zealand have discovered a much cheaper way to create solar
cells. They have developed a new range
of dyes that imitate nature-like chlorophyll-to be used in dye sensitized
solar cells. These cells will cost about 10% of what silicon cells now
cost.
These synthetic dyes are made from simple organic
compounds that are closely related to those found in nature. Green is a synthetic chlorophyll made from
light-harvesting pigment that plants use for photosynthesis. Other dyes that are being tested are based
on hemoglobin, the compound that gives blood its color.
The researchers say that, unlike the other silicon based
solar cells on the market, these cells (a 10cm x 10 cm cells) can generate
enough energy to power a small fan in low light conditions, making them more
useful in "less than sunny" areas.
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