Silesian scientists are working on a new generation of photovoltaic cells

Photovoltaic cells in the form of flexible materials covering a bag to charge a cell phone tucked inside it? A new generation of these elements, which researchers from the University of Silesia and the Silesian University of Technology are working on, may have such applications in the future.

Their project concerns the development of new polymeric structures for the construction of photovoltaic cells, e.g. In the form of flexible trawlokien. Ultimately, they are expected to allow more efficient charging of electric devices at relatively low costs of energy acquisition in the manner ofob environmentally friendly.

According to the project leader Prof. dr hab. Eng. According to Prof. Ewa Schab-Balcerzak of the Institute of Chemistry at the University of Silesia, due to the increasing demand for energy in society, it is necessary to take care of the development ofoj scientific research in the field of electricity production from renewable sourcesodeł. The market for photovoltaic cells is one of them – elementoin whichowhich convert solar energy into electricity. Today, these cells are associated mainlyoIncluding solar panels placed e.g. on the roofs of buildingsow.

And although the market for photovoltaic cells is growing year by year, the power of the cells installed in Poland is, according to prof. Schab-Balcerzak still below the standardoin the European. – Rozwoj photovoltaics is therefore a very topical subject. Photovoltaic technologies, especiallyolnie concerning flexible photovoltaics, whichora is an area of our interest, are in constant development, and new solutions are constantly being sought to meet the demands of – mowi researcher.

New organic cells, over whichoThe research is carried out by scientists from the Institute of Chemistry of the University of Silesia (team of Schab-Balcerzak and PhD). – Developoj technology of flexible photovoltaics is moving towards the development of lightweight and low-cost devices. Production of cells in the form of flexible trawlsokien or mats also translates into broadening the area of their application – explained prof. Schab-Balcerzak.

The challenge, however, is primarily to improve the durability of such cells, as well as to improve their parametersoin photovoltaic, mainown efficient conversion of light energy into electricity. – The solution to these problemsoThe project is being carried out in research centers around the world – emphasized the researcher.

Silesian scientists in their basic research want to focus on dwoch types of solar cells – dye and volume.

– The scope of the project includes the preparation of conductive compositesow, containing as a dispersed phase conductive polymers, inorganic nanoparticles or hybrids of these fillers. From the resulting compositeoin will be generated nanow³okna by electrospinning technique – tells prof. Schab-Balcerzak.

Then the nanow³ produced in this wayokna will serve scientists to construct dye or volume cells. – In the presented project, we propose the use of new dye cells for the production of dye cellsoin organic and replacing the commonly used porous TiO2 layers with fabricated composites in the shape of nanowiresokien, which should lead to improved durability and efficiency of the obtained cells – explained the professor.

The three-year project entitled. "New polymer constructions for photovoltaic cells" The project was co-financed with funds from theoThe National Science Center’s grant of over PLN 1 million.

– The scientific objective of the project is to study the physical phenomena accompanying the process of light absorption in our proposed systems and to determine the relationship between the photovoltaic properties of the cells, in which theohe active layer of which will be the materials we have developed. Identification of such relationships will be key to improving the durability and efficiency of photovoltaic cells – concluded Prof. Schab-Balcerzak.

The research is conducted by scientists from the Institute of Chemistry at the University of Silesia (zesporesearch prof. Schab-Balcerzak and dr. Marcin Libera) and from the Institute of MaterialoProf. Jerzy Woźnicki, a member of the Engineering and Biomedical Department of the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice (the teamoł dr hab. Tomasz Tanski).