Fraunhofer to show flexible solar module
1 min read
At nano tech 2008 – being held in Tokyo from 21 to 23 February – experts from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems will be presenting a flexible solar module that is as small as the page of a book.
The module has been produced by a method that can easily be transferred to roll to roll technology – which Fraunhofer says is a vital step en route to mass production. “This method permits a high throughput, so the greatest cost is that of materials,” says Michael Niggemann, a Fraunhofer researcher.
A new design principle is said to save costs. In previous designs, the front electrode has usually been made of expensive indium tin oxide, which is transparent. But the Fraunhofer researchers have interconnected a poorly conductive transparent polymer electrode with a highly conductive metal layer on the rear side of the solar cell through numerous tiny holes in the solar cell. This means a less expensive material can be used.
Organic solar cells are not expected to compete with classic silicon cells as yet. However, because they are flexible, they can enable new applications, including powering MP3 players.
