'Fiber-Type Solar Cells' Resistant to Extreme Environments

Development of Fiber-Type Solar Cells with 36% Higher Efficiency Compared to Existing Models

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] Domestic researchers have developed a high-efficiency solid fiber-type solar cell that operates even in extreme environments.

Dr. Myungkwan Song's research team from the Surface Materials Research Division at the Korea Institute of Materials Science and Dr. Sangchul Han, Chief Research Officer at CEN Co., Ltd., announced on the 14th that they developed a solar cell using porous silica nanospheres embedded with silver particles, in collaboration with Professor Lee Hyungwoo of Pusan National University and Professor Shin Myunghoon of Korea Aerospace University. The related research paper was recently published as a cover article in the international academic journal Nano Research.

The research team developed a charge transport layer material synthesized with a photocatalyst. They synthesized silica nanoparticles embedded with silver within a porous titanium dioxide layer. This material exhibits high solar light absorption and smooth charge transport through localized surface plasmon resonance. The team reported that the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the solid fiber-type solar cell equipped with this material was 5.1%, approximately 35% higher than conventional solar cells.

The research team viewed this solar cell as highly versatile due to its characteristics such as lower cost, easy processing, flexibility, and diversity compared to existing cells. Principal Researcher Myungkwan Song stated, "To realize a stable solid-type fiber solar cell even in extreme environments, we presented a new perspective on the development of the charge transport layer," adding, "In the future, by integrating it with energy storage devices such as batteries, it is expected to be used as a power supply device for various portable electronic devices."

Dr. Sangchul Han of CEN, who developed the core material for the solar cell, said, "We hope that CEN's SMBTM technology, which can mass-produce mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) for the first time in the world, will lay a groundbreaking foundation for solar power generation efficiency."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.