On April 4. 2019. researchers from Austria and Japan publicly demonstrated their ultra-thin solar panels. It is reported that this solar panel is currently the world's thinnest and lightest organic solar cell. Its thickness is only 1.8-1.9 microns (1 micron is 0.001 mm), which is only 1/5 the thickness of household plastic wrap. It is thinner than spider silk, but it is very flexible and can cover hair.
It is understood that this research was carried out by researchers such as Kaltenbrunner, Bauer, and Koppler from the University of Austria, as well as researchers from the University of Tokyo such as Qiugang Gang. The research team successfully developed the world's thinnest and lightest solar cell by uniformly spreading an ink containing organic semiconductors on an ultra-thin plastic film substrate with a thickness of only 1.4 microns.
The research team stated in a report published in the online scientific journal Nature Communications that the device is thinner than spider silk. A researcher at the University of Tokyo Magic just pointed out that it is so thin that people can barely feel its weight, even if it is so thin, it is flexible.
The researcher said that the thickness of the world's thinnest solar cell currently known is 25 microns, and the thickness of the new product developed this time is only about 1/14th of that. This research has successfully achieved ultra-lightweight and ultra-thin solar cells, which is expected to further drive the application of solar cells to mobile devices such as smartphones. People can carry this thin and light solar cell with them to charge electronic devices, and the elderly can also use it to replace the batteries in their portable health testing equipment.
The conversion rate of this thin and light solar cell is 4.2%, which is inferior to the current conversion level of 10%-20% of solar cells, but because the product can bend like a hair, the conversion rate will not be affected in any way after bending. It can be maintained at 4.2%. In addition, the production of this product does not require complicated procedures or expensive production equipment, so it can be mass-produced at low cost.
This solar cell generates 10 watts per gram, and under the same weight, its power generation can reach 25 times that of rooftop solar cells installed in existing homes. It is understood that the research team plans to continue to improve the material of the power generation layer, hoping to increase the photoelectric conversion rate of this solar cell to 10%, realize commercial production within 5 years, and put it on the market. Two years have passed, let us look forward to it together!
