TABJ - July 6 - Everyone is talking about the breakthrough in ‘cling film’ manufactured solar which could, potentially, revolutionise the industry in terms of cost, product development and innovation.  Replacing commonly used silicon and similar products with a printable solar cell component, capable of being rolled out and spread thin like cling film (hence the analogies) is an attractive concept, without doubt—and it looks like it could be the next big thing for the photovoltaic (PV) industry.

According to scientists from both Cambridge and Sheffield Universities, in the U.K., a particular polymer structure that the teams have had under investigation hold the potential for molecular separation—molecules fall above and below —when spread in this manner. This created a heightened efficient solar cell, and if the research can reach between seven and 10 per cent (or more) efficiency it could quite conceivably become commercially viable.

“Rather than using complex and expensive fabrication methods to create a specific semiconductor nanostructure, high volume printing could be used to produce nanoscale (60 nanometres) films of solar cells that are over a thousand times thinner than the width of a human hair,” Dr Andrew Parnell of the University of Sheffield told press.

“These films could then be used to make cost-effective, light and easily transportable plastic solar cell devices such as solar panels.”