IBM conventional materials to produce solar cell technology

IBM scientists are studying the development of solar cells with conventional materials. The researchers published in the Advanced Materials journal, said it was possible with conventional materials, a relatively efficient way to manufacture solar cells. This battery can be 9.6% of solar energy into electrical energy, the photoelectric conversion efficiency is 40% higher than the current technology. This conversion efficiency much higher than the silicon Inspiron 1501 battery on the market, and even comparable with the efficiency of thin film solar cells. IBM uses conventional materials to manufacture solar cells, such as copper, zinc, tin, sulfur, or selenium. IBM said the rare materials used in existing solar technology has limited its development.

Solar, Inc. announced that the cadmium and tellurium manufacture of thin film batteries. GE also plans to begin selling early next year, cadmium telluride materialInspiron E1505 battery . Some small companies like Nanosolar, Miasole and HelioVolt in the production of copper, indium, gallium and selenide alloy material of solar cells.

IBM scientists Teodor Todorov, Kathleen Reuter and David Mitz, the shortcomings of these cells is either very scarce raw materials used in, or impact on the environment. This means that these batteries need to consider the cost of environmental protection. Thomas Theis, director of physical sciences at IBM TJWatson Research Laboratory, said: "equal efficiency for Inspiron 1520 battery materials contained either very expensive or environmental impact, or further enhance the efficiency of space, which makes commercial and large-scale popularity has become very difficult.

Compared to conventional batteries, the advantages of thin film batteries is the use of the material is relatively small. IBM solar cell can use high-speed manufacturing latitude e5400 battery technology to produce, such as "rolling manufacturing technology" roll-to-roll manufacturing U.S. National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy Fellow, Matthew Beard, participated in the IBM project, it will this technology become a "breakthrough".

The scientists expect that if the technology can achieve a breakthrough, you can get 12% of the photoelectric conversion efficiency, and thereby on the economicprecision m2400 battery cost to completely replace the existing solar products.