Photovoltaic solar cells convert energy from sunlight into electricity using semiconductors, the most widely used of which is silicon. This transformation can currently be performed at a conversion rate of around 16% for most mass-manufactured cells, due to the material and the cell technology employed. Therefore, a significant amount of effort is being made in the industry to improve solar cell conversion rates.
CENER and FideNa are working to develop nanometric structures (of less than 300 nm) in photovoltaic cells for two reasons. Firstly, to reduce the reflectivity of the surface of solar cells to practically zero to ensure no light is reflected; and secondly, to maximise the rate of absorption by the silicon so that the highest possible amount of solar radiation penetrates the cell to generate the largest amount of energy possible. Both objectives can be achieved using nanostructures when manufacturing solar cells.
The project has a budget of €500,000 and is part financed by the Department of Innovation, Business and Employment of the Regional Government of Navarre and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.
Work on the project started in October 2009 and will run through to the end of 2011. In this first phase, 10 researchers from both entities are working around the clock to develop a technology that can be employed at an industrial scale to manufacture the next generation of photovoltaic solar cells.
For additional information:
