Solar cell fabric

Solar cell fabric

Solar cell fabric is a fabric with embedded photovoltaic (PV) cells which generate electricity when exposed to light.

Traditional silicon based solar cells are expensive to manufacture, rigid and fragile. Although less efficient, thin-film cells and organic polymer based cells can be produced quickly and cheaply. They are also flexible and can be stitched onto fabric.

According to an article from New Scientistfact|date=June 2008 researchers have built a PV cell in the layers around a fiber, creating a tiny cylindrical cell. No longer limited to rooftops and poles, solar collection could work silently and unobtrusively from everyday objects.

Examples of recent research

Flexible solar cells can be used in humanitarian aid. A makeshift shelter developed by Iowa Thin Film called the Power Shade can generate one kilowatt of energy. This could help power emergency equipment at short notice in remote places.

Konarka Industries produce a thin film polymer based PV cell, as a flexible film stitched onto a fabric. The ability to make these cells even smaller is dependent on further research into nanocrystal PV cells. In theory nanotechnology could provide a way to expand the range of photons a cell could collect, increasing its efficiency while becoming smaller. Konarka, in partner with other institutions, is working on this.

ShadePlex is currently developing a product that integrates thin film photovoltaic modules with architectural fabrics. They will feature a high power output (200 W, 500 W, and 1000 W), and can feed either a battery system or be tied to the grid. Integrating thin film photovoltaics with fabric structures will enable a whole class of buildings to easily integrate renewable energy solutions.

External links

* [http://www.shadeplex.com: Shadeplex LLC: Solar Fabric Developer & Manufacturer]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • energy conversion — ▪ technology Introduction       the transformation of energy from forms provided by nature to forms that can be used by humans.       Over the centuries a wide array of devices and systems has been developed for this purpose. Some of these energy …   Universalium

  • dye — dyable, dyeable, adj. dyer, n. /duy/, n., v., dyed, dyeing. n. 1. a coloring material or matter. 2. a liquid containing coloring matter, for imparting a particular hue to cloth, paper, etc. 3. color or hue, esp. as produced by dyeing. 4. of the… …   Universalium

  • automobile — automobilist /aw teuh meuh bee list, moh bi list/, n. /aw teuh meuh beel , aw teuh meuh beel , aw teuh moh beel, beuhl/, n. 1. a passenger vehicle designed for operation on ordinary roads and typically having four wheels and a gasoline or diesel… …   Universalium

  • materials science — the study of the characteristics and uses of various materials, as glass, plastics, and metals. [1960 65] * * * Study of the properties of solid materials and how those properties are determined by the material s composition and structure, both… …   Universalium

  • Autonomous building — An autonomous building is a building designed to be operated independently from infrastructural support services such as the electric power grid, municipal water systems, sewage treatment systems, storm drains, communication services, and in some …   Wikipedia

  • technology, history of — Introduction       the development over time of systematic techniques for making and doing things. The term technology, a combination of the Greek technē, “art, craft,” with logos, “word, speech,” meant in Greece a discourse on the arts, both… …   Universalium

  • Renewable energy in the European Union — The countries of the European Union are currently the global leaders in the development and application of renewable energy. Promoting the use of renewable energy sources is important both to the reduction of the EU s dependence on foreign energy …   Wikipedia

  • Nanogenerator — is an energy harvesting device converting the external kinetic energy into an electrical energy based on the energy conversion by nano structured piezoelectric material. Although its definition may include any types of energy harvesting devices… …   Wikipedia

  • Technology in Science Fiction — has helped create many common topics found in Science Fiction today. There have been authors who have taken innovations and have elaborated and created what they thought future technology would be and how it would be used. Today, new technology… …   Wikipedia

  • Timeline of carbon nanotubes — NOTOC Timeline of carbon nanotubes:1952* Radushkevich and Lukyanovich publish a paper in the Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry showing hollow graphitic carbon fibers that are 50.34 nanometers in diameter. [cite journal |… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”