Peking University researchers develop new single-line solar cells

The quality of new solar cells is lighter and more flexible than traditional silicon-based batteries, creating a new path for the application of photovoltaic technology. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) not only have the characteristics of light weight and high efficiency, but also have low production cost. The new single-line solar cell developed by Cao Anyuan and colleagues at Peking University’s Institute of Technology will greatly expand the scope of application of dye-sensitized solar cells, or be used in large-scale solar arrays in the future.

A dye-sensitized solar cell is a new type of thin-film solar cell, which has a low production cost, a simple manufacturing process, and can be prepared by a relatively simple electrochemical treatment. The dye-sensitized solar cell itself is simple in structure and consists of an anode and a cathode immersed in an electrolyte. The anode of a dye-sensitized solar cell is usually composed of a dye compound and titanium dioxide. The former absorbs sunlight and generates free positive and negative charges. The latter acts as a conductor to cause charges to flow toward the respective electrodes and generate electric current.

Professor Cao Anyuan and his colleagues greatly reduced the size of dye-sensitized solar cells by wrapping titanium wires on dye-coated titanium dioxide tubes. As a negative electrode, a layer of nano-carbon network tube is also wrapped on the outside. Carbon nanotubes are highly conductive and have high transparency. These advantages make them ideal light-absorbing materials.

Dye-sensitized solar cells also have good photoelectric conversion efficiency, with a conversion efficiency of 1.6% per line. Although there is a large gap between the standard conversion rate of dye-sensitized solar cells, the conversion rate can be greatly improved by improving the circuit design.

According to researchers, this dye-sensitized solar cell can be used in textiles. Fibrous solar cells are very flexible and can be easily used on clothes, backpacks, and curtains. (Translation: Owen)