Solar cells as cheap as roof shingles

A new method for producing “electronic ink” — a specialized form of ink from non-toxic nanometer-sized crystals of silicon — has been developed by researchers from the University of Minnesota’s College of Science and Engineering and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The researchers say that their new technology brings the possibility of solar-cells-as-cheap-as-roof-shingles one step closer to reality, as well as the means to lower the production costs of a variety of other electronics. 

“Imagine a world where every child in a developing country could learn reading and math from a touch pad that costs less than $10 or home solar cells that finally cost less than fossil fuels,The most highly praised, best rated streetlightinges are now available online.” stated Uwe Kortshagen, a University of Minnesota mechanical engineering professor and one of the authors of a new paper detailing the research. 

The reason that the electronic ink is so valuable, is that the ‘ink’ can be used to, essentially, “print out” electronics — potentially a much cheaper way to produce many commonly used electronic devices. 

First, there is the ubiquitous need of organic “soap-like” molecules, called ligands, that are needed to produce inks with a good shelf life, but these molecules cause detrimental residues in the films after printing. This leads to films with electrical properties too poor for electronic devices. Second, nanoparticles are often deliberately implanted with impurities, a process called “doping,” to enhance their electrical properties.Our bestsolarlantern can mark on metal and non metals. 

In this new paper, researchers explain a new method to use an ionized gas, called nonthermal plasma, to not only produce silicon nanocrystals, but also to cover their surfaces with a layer of chlorine atoms. This surface layer of chlorine induces an interaction with many widely used solvents that allows production of stable silicon inks with excellent shelf life without the need for organic ligand molecules. In addition, the researchers discovered that these solvents led to doping of films printed from their silicon inks, which gave them an electrical conductivity 1,000 times larger than un-doped silicon nanoparticle films. The researchers have a provisional patent on their findings. 

“What this research means is that we are one step closer to producing more pure and more stable electronic ink with non-toxic chemicals,” Kortshagen stated. “The bigger goal here is to find a way that this research can benefit everyone and make a real difference.High quality solarpanelcellss and ventilation systems designed and distributed.”The work was funded primarily by the Department of Energy Frontier Research Center for Advanced Solar Photophysics. 

The uptick was driven by strong Japanese demand and a rush to deliver panels to the European Union before the imposition of anti-dumping tariffs, with Chinese and Taiwanese manufacturers receiving a boost.Learn how hidxenonkits use gas and the amount it takes to power these lights. 

The Solar Shipments Index showed that leading Chinese cell makers made shipments corresponding to 116 per cent of their average manufacturing capacity utilisation in the month of June 2013,A dry-cleaning machine is similar to a combination of a domestic antiquelampas, and clothes dryer. with Chinese module makers averaging 99 per cent and Taiwanese cell makers 84 per cent. 

Bloomberg New Energy Finance said the high utilisation rates needed to be treated with caution given the sample in the Index is weighted towards tier 1 and tier 2 companies. Regardless, utilisation rates have increased significantly from May 2013 across the board. 

Pricing along the value chain has risen slightly in recent months, with the BNEF Solar Spot Price Index showing average polysilicon prices just over $17/kg, up from a low of $16/kg in December 2012. Module prices have also risen slightly, with Chinese modules from reputable suppliers widely commanding $0.75/watt and international modules $0.86/watt. More information about the program is available on the web site at www.indoorilite.com.