Biodegradable Solar Cells from Trees

RECYCLABLE SOLAR CELL'S

The scientists of Georgia Institute of Technology and Purdue University have discovered new solar cells that are totally dependent on natural substances which can be easily obtained from plants and trees. Those solar cells have an efficiency of about 2.7 percent. These cells present on the substrate that are derived from the renewable raw materials and can also certainly biodegradable.

A professor named Bernard Kippelen from Georgia Tech College of Engineering has researched on this and expecting to have a defensible and renewable solar cells to make it function practically for the first time.   

A Kippelen has opened a new era for the engineers to make advancement in the technology of solar, based on the performance of organic substrates for future use. He also said that these organic solar cells must be recyclable otherwise we are just making ourselves less reliance on fossil fuels  because present fossil fuels technology through which we are obtaining energies from natural gas, oil and coil  sources but they are not recyclable at the end of their lifespan.  

Organic solar cells are assembled on a glass or plastic and it is very difficult to recycle them whereas Kippelen solar cells are contrived on a Cellulose Nanocrystal (CNC) that is obtained through trees and plants.

Solar Cell Fabricated on CNC

After the completion of life cycle of these solar cells, they are simply immersed in water at room temperature. After minute water is absorbed by solar cells, the CNC substrate dissolves and leaving behind the solar cells with its major components that can be easily apart.

Recycling of Solar Cells in Water 

Before dissolving of CNC substrate by a thin layer of organic semiconductor it allows the light to transmit through it, as CNC substrate is optically translucent. The efficiency of 2.7 percent is not sufficient as compared to recent technologies in solar cell completed by ‘Empa’. In that there is a clear demonstration of recycling of solar cells that are ecologically beneficial.

The researchers are still involved in trying to increase efficiency of those solar cells for the future use. Their next step is to improve the power conversion efficiency exceeds 10 percent similar to the solar cells that are fabricated on substrate of glass or petroleum based, said by Kippelen.