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OKIsItJustMe

(19,933 posts)
Sat Jun 9, 2012, 12:24 AM Jun 2012

Lab Breakthrough: Microelectronic Photovoltaics

http://energy.gov/articles/lab-breakthrough-microelectronic-photovoltaics
[font face=Serif][font size=5]Lab Breakthrough: Microelectronic Photovoltaics[/font]
June 7, 2012 - 9:31am


Sandia developed tiny glitter-sized photovoltaic (PV) cells that could revolutionize solar energy collection. The crystalline silicon micro-PV cells will be cheaper and have greater efficiencies than current PV collectors.

[font size=4]Sandia National Lab semiconductor engineer Gregory Nielson and postdoctoral appointee Jose Luis Cruz-Campa recently took some time to discuss their breakthrough in photovoltaic technology. Their small, flexible photovoltaics are highly efficient and cost effective – the perfect combination for a game-changing technology.

This Q&A and video are part of the Lab Breakthrough series, which highlights innovations developed at the National Labs.
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[font size=3]Question: In layman’s terms, what makes the breakthrough so exciting in terms of meeting America’s energy needs?

Jose Luis Cruz-Campa: Solar energy is the only energy source that can meet the world's energy needs in a sustainable manner. The problem with solar energy is that it is more expensive than electricity coming from other sources that currently supply the grid (coal, natural gas, existing nuclear, etc.).

This new approach to solar power uses the same tools and techniques as the microsystems industry, which includes integrated circuits, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), LEDs, and other technologies. By taking advantage of the microsystems industry, we are able to use an existing manufacturing base along with existing manufacturing tools and an entire support industry that is already in place.

Furthermore, the benefits resulting from the microscale nature of the cells are very compelling. The small size of the cells allows flexible and conformal PV in a way that has not been possible before. Finally, our externally validated cost estimates indicate that this approach has the potential to make solar energy cost competitive with current sources of grid power. This technology could enable the powering of anything by simply exposing it to light.

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Lab Breakthrough: Microelectronic Photovoltaics (Original Post) OKIsItJustMe Jun 2012 OP
I will have to listen to this later. I have been listening for over a decade about this technology.. midnight Jun 2012 #1
They keep saying 'high-efficiency' but I didn't see a number. n/t PoliticAverse Jun 2012 #2
Here’s a release from 2009 OKIsItJustMe Jun 2012 #3
Thanks. n/t PoliticAverse Jun 2012 #4

midnight

(26,624 posts)
1. I will have to listen to this later. I have been listening for over a decade about this technology..
Sat Jun 9, 2012, 12:49 AM
Jun 2012

I wish I could put more of this tech to use than just yard lights.....

OKIsItJustMe

(19,933 posts)
3. Here’s a release from 2009
Sat Jun 9, 2012, 10:04 AM
Jun 2012
https://share.sandia.gov/news/resources/news_releases/glitter-sized-solar-photovoltaics-produce-competitive-results/
[font face=Serif]December 21, 2009

[font size=5]Glitter-sized solar photovoltaics produce competitive results[/font]

[font size=4]Adventures in microsolar supported by microelectronics and MEMS techniques[/font]

[font size=3]ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sandia National Laboratories scientists have developed tiny glitter-sized photovoltaic cells that could revolutionize the way solar energy is collected and used.



Each cell is formed on silicon wafers, etched and then released inexpensively in hexagonal shapes, with electrical contacts prefabricated on each piece, by borrowing techniques from integrated circuits and MEMS.

Offering a run for their money to conventional large wafers of crystalline silicon, electricity presently can be harvested from the Sandia-created cells with 14.9 percent efficiency. Off-the-shelf commercial modules range from 13 to 20 percent efficient.



Solar concentrators — low-cost, prefabricated, optically efficient microlens arrays — can be placed directly over each glitter-sized cell to increase the number of photons arriving to be converted via the photovoltaic effect into electrons. The small cell size means that cheaper and more efficient short focal length microlens arrays can be fabricated for this purpose.

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