Solar cells developed from the trees; They can be recycled too! To date, organic solar cells are typically made ?of glass or plastic. Neither is easily recyclable and petroleum-based substrates are not very environmentally friendly. Georgia Institute of Technology and Purdue University researchers have developed efficient solar cells using natural plant-derived substrates as trees.We have reported a lot of innovation around solar cells, but it will surely take you by surprise. What makes the story even more exciting is that researchers have managed to recycle water by manufacturing them in cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) substrates.Neither is easily recyclable and petroleum-based substrates are not very environmentally friendly. To date, organic solar cells are typically made ?of glass or plastic. During the recycling process, the solar cells are simply immersed in water at room temperature. Within a few minutes, the CNC and the solar cell substrate can be easily separated into its major components, the press release in the states of Georgia Tech dissolves.Researchers report that organic solar cells reach a power conversion efficiency of 2.7 percent, a record number of cells on substrates derived from renewable raw materials. The CNC substrates in which the solar cells are fabricated are optically clear, allowing light to pass through it before being absorbed by a very thin layer of an organic semiconductor.The study was led by Professor Bernard Kippelen Engineering says that the project team opens the door to a technology truly recyclable, sustainable and renewable solar cells. "The development and performance of organic substrates in solar technology continues to improve, providing engineers with a good indication of future applications," Kippelen, who is also the director of the Georgia Tech Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics (COPE said ). "But organic solar cells must be recycled. Otherwise, we are simply solving a problem, less dependence on fossil fuels while creating another, a technology that produces energy from renewable sources, but we can not rule the end of its life cycle. " "Our next steps will be to work towards improving the energy conversion efficiency of over 10 percent, similar to solar cells fabricated on glass substrates or petroleum-based levels," said Kippelen. The group plan to achieve by optimizing the optical properties of the solar cell electrode.- Read more at: http://zeropollution.blogspot.com/2013/04/solar-cells-developed-from-trees-can-be.html#sthash.nTO2EjNZ.dpuf
