Georgia Institute Technology develops first 3D solar cells

Georgia Institute of Technology scientists had recently developed a new solar cell model that does not require to be installed on usual surfaces, such as building rooftops. The technology makes use of nanostructures painted with light-sensitive dyes and produced directly from fibre optics.

The innovative approach led to the creation of a 3D photovoltaic (PV) system that can be deployed in sites where traditional solar panels would normally not function. Materials science and engineering professor, Zhong Lin Wang, said that using the technology makes photovoltaic generators concealed, foldable and mobile.

Wang, explaining the new system’s fundamental principles, said that in every reflection within the fibre, a light interacts with the dye-coated nanostructures. This results to multiple light reflections inside the fibre and various reflections within the nanostructures, boosting the PV’s efficiency through increased light interactions with the dye molecules.

Dye-sensitized paint is particularly a versatile solution for generating electricity from sunlight. It is robust, making it suitable for such applications, and also cheap to manufacture, as it does not involve complex production processes. However, it transfers energy at a lower speed than silicon-made photovoltaic materials. But with the help of nanostructures, the paint’s surface increases to reach efficiency further than that of a solar cell based on silicon.

Wang informed that the new technology could remove the visual issues of PV arrays on building infrastructures. Similarly, the 3D device is able to provide energy to parked cars and for charging mobile military equipments, where conventional solar panels are impractical to use.