Jul 3 2010
Evolution Solar announced that a method for organizing organic dyes into stacked porous sheets has been developed by the Dichtel group in Cornell University. The sheets are then integrated with flexible solar cells. This method reduces the manufacturing cost of the solar cells drastically, and also creates high-efficient solar cells that can be easily manufactured.
The first step of the process is to assemble organic dye molecules into a structure called covalent organic framework (COF). A simple acid catalyst and stable molecules, known as protected catechols, are used to align the key molecules into a 2D sheet. The porous sheets can be stacked one above the other to form a lattice structure. This structure provides path for the movement of charge through the material.
The framework has molecules called phthalocyanines at its core. Phthalocyanines is a common industrial dye that is used in various products such as blue jeans and ink pens. After the framework is assembled, the pores in between the molecular lattices can be filled with any other organic material to form flexible and light solar cells.
At present, Evolution Solar is constructing a solar demonstration site that is to be located at the Houston campus of Texas Southern University. The site is being developed in collaboration with the University. President of Evolution Solar, Robert Hines, stated that the framework could contribute in making the solar energy more competitive when compared with fossil fuels.
Source: http://www.evolutionsolar.com