Plastic solar cells are made up of layers of different materials, each with a specific function, called a sandwich structure.
The development of inexpensive, mass-produced plastic solar panels is the main objective because of the high cost and shortage of the ultra-high purity silicon and other materials normally required.
Jillian Buriak, a professor of chemistry at the university, NINT principal investigator and member of the research team, uses a simple analogy to describe the approach:
Consider a clubhouse sandwich, with many different layers. One layer absorbs the light, another helps to generate the electricity, and others help to draw the electricity out of the device. Normally, the layers don’t stick well, and so the electricity ends up stuck and never gets out, leading to inefficient devices. We are working on the mayonnaise, the mustard, the butter and other ‘special sauces’ that bring the sandwich together, and make each of the layers work together. That makes a better sandwich, and makes a better solar cell, in our case.
Michael Brett, professor of electrical and computer engineering, NINT principal investigator and member of the research team is optimistic: our team is so incredibly cross-disciplinary, with people from engineering, physics and chemistry backgrounds all working towards this common goal of cheap manufacturable solar cells. This collaboration is extremely productive because of the great team with such diverse backgrounds, [although] there is still so much more for us to do, which is exciting.
This approach, common at the NINT, brings together the best of the National Research Council (NRC) and the University of Alberta.
The team estimates it will be five to seven years before plastic solar panels will be mass produced.
But, Buriak has reported that when it happens solar energy will be available to everyone and new solar technology belongs to plastic.
Buriak said, Plastic solar cell material will be made cheaply and quickly and in massive quantities by ink jet-like printers.
