MIT Develops New Paper-thin Solar Photovoltaic Cells

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has recently developed a new 'paper-thin' solar photovoltaic cell that can be applied to a variety of surfaces to produce highly-integratable and versatile solar energy. The cells use nanomaterials in the form of printable e-ink to deposit layers of electronic material onto a prepared peelable substrate that is only 3 microns thick, and screen printing to deposit electrodes onto the structure to complete the solar module.

The researchers were then able to peel printed modules about 15 microns thick from a plastic substrate to form an ultra-lightweight solar device, the journalist learned. The researchers then adhered their devices to a lightweight material commercially known as Dyneema, which weighs just 13 grams per square metre.

The cells have not yet been scaled up to industrial manufacturing levels and need to be wrapped in another protective material to prevent them from degrading once they are exposed to the environment. MIT said the carbon-based organic material used in the manufacturing process could be altered through interaction with moisture and oxygen, which could impair its performance.

The study claims that the modules produce 730W/kg of power when freestanding under test conditions and around 370W/kg when deployed on Dyneema fabrics.

One of the researchers, Mayuran Saravanapavanantham, says the development team is currently experimenting with encapsulating the solar cells in thick glass, which may add some weight but could help explore future commercial solutions.