Solar cell fabric

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Solar cell fabric is a fabric with embedded Photovoltaic (PV) cells which generate electricity when exposed to light.

Traditional silicon based solar cells are expensive to manufacture, rigid and fragile. Although less efficient, thin-film cells and organic polymer based cells can be produced quickly and cheaply. They are also flexible and can be stitched onto fabric.

According to an article from new scientist.com, researchers have built a PV cell in the layers around a fiber, creating a tiny cylindrical cell. No longer limited to rooftops and poles, solar collection could work silently and unobtrusively from everyday objects.

[edit] Examples of recent research

Flexible solar cells can be used in humanitarian aid. A makeshift shelter developed by Iowa Thin Film called the Power Shade can generate one kilowatt of energy. This could help power emergency equipment at short notice in remote places.

Konarka Industries produce a thin film polymer based PV cell, as a flexible film stitched onto a fabric. The ability to make these cells even smaller is dependent on further research into nanocrystal PV cells. In theory nanotechnology could provide a way to expand the range of photons a cell could collect, increasing its efficiency while becoming smaller. Konarka, in partner with other institutions, is working on this.