Oregon State Uses Microwave to Produce Nanoparticles for Solar Cells
August 27, 2012 3:43 PM
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CZTS cells offer a cheap alternative to indium thin films
The hunt for inexpensive thin films for solar cells is a hot topic of current research.
Today, solar power has many downsides -- polycrystalline silicon panels are fragile (non-bendable) and relative expensive -- plus they're limited in efficiency, without failure-prone concentrating technology. But more durable, efficient thin film cells can be even more expensive.
Oregon State University
(OSU) have published
[abstract] in the peer-reviewed journal
Physica Status Solidi A
detailing a production method for Cu
(CZTS) cells. CZTS cells are much cheaper than the indium based thin film cells that dominate current production. But producing the CZTS nanoparticles necessary has been a time consuming (and hence expensive) process.
Traditionally heating is accomplished by radiating coils or other mechanisms, but researchers at OSU dreamt up an innovative solution -- using microwaves to rapidly react the ingredients.
The microwave raised the solution temperature to 190 deg. Celsius for 30 min. The resulting cells efficiency was 0.25 percent.
[abstract] has shown 7.2% efficient cells produce with conventional (225 deg. Celsius) heating, with a similar (30 min.) heating time.
But the OSU team suggests the microwave heating process is cheaper and could eventually be reduced to "seconds".
the senior author,
Associate Professor Greg Herman
, "This approach should save money, work well and be easier to scale up at commercial levels, compared to traditional synthetic methods. Microwave technology offers more precise control over heat and energy to achieve the desired reactions."
OSU has showed promising results with microwave produced cells.
Physica Status Solidi A
The team says the previous (7.2% efficient) study got better results largely because the nanoparticles were produced in vacuum to eliminate impurities that occur when producing in a reactive atmosphere.
The team is bullish on CZTS cells, with Professor Herman commenting, "All of the elements used in this new compound are benign and inexpensive, and should have good solar cell performance. Several companies are already moving in this direction as prices continue to rise for some alternative compounds that contain more expensive elements like indium. With some improvements in its solar efficiency this new compound should become very commercially attractive."
The work was funded by Sharp Laboratories of America (a Sharp Corp. (
) property), the
Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute
, and the
Oregon Process Innovation Center for Sustainable Solar Cell Manufacturing
(Built Environment & Sustainable Technologies) signature research facility. Oregon BEST is a nonprofit research effort authorized by Oregon's legislature.
Physica Status Solidi A [abstract]
Oregon State [press release]
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RE: What is all this nanparticle crap?
8/28/2012 7:41:55 AM
Give it time. It can take a good few years, if not decades, before scientific discoveries make their way into consumer products.
Many of the awesome technological gadgets of tomorrow have probably already been designed, built and are fully functional right now. The reason they may not be in consumers' hands yet are due to size, weight, cost, or safety reasons, all of which are refined during the R&D stages.
The use of microwaves to heat food was discovered during WW2, and the first microwave oven appeared shortly after that. But it was nearly 2 decades later until the technology made its way into a consumer product that was affordable enough for most families.
"There is a single light of science, and to brighten it anywhere is to brighten it everywhere." -- Isaac Asimov
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