Pokeberries used to increase solar cell efficiency
Demonstrating the creative genius that is often present in solar technology, researchers have discovered a way to pull solar power from pokeberries (also known as pokeweed). More precisely, a red dye that comes from the berries can be used to coat fiber-based solar cells. The dye absorbs and traps sunlight, allowing for a greater conversion into solar power.
Wake Forest University’s Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials believes that the new discovery could help increase solar power usage worldwide. The ubiquitous weed grows easily, even in dry, rocky soil. The juice from pokeberries is so vibrant that its been used to create designs on skin and even as ink for letter-writing.
Solar dye has gotten the attention of renewable energy researchers lately. But what makes the new pokeberry discovery particularly exciting is the fact that the plant grows so easily and is inexpensive.
Quite simply, the plant is a weed. It grows everywhere in the world! The Center’s director, David Carroll, Ph.D. notes that residents of rural Africa could raise the plants at a very minimal cost. Dye absorber could be made for the fiber cells and solar electricity will be generated for those regions that are not reached by power lines.
Dye sensitized solar cell
Fiber-based solar cells are extremely efficient, with the ability to generate twice as much power than “traditional” solar cells. Generally, plastic fibers are stamped onto plastic sheets, using the same technology as that for attaching tops of soft-drink cans. After that, an absorber (here, dye from the pokeberries) is sprayed on the cells. The solar technology results in lightweight, flexible applications that can be shipped anywhere in the world at a low cost.
Once solar cells are shipped to their destination, they can then be sprayed with pokeberry dye before installation. Dr. Carroll estimates that the overall cost for such a plant would be only about $5 million…. $15 million less than it would cost for a similar plant for flat cells.
The exciting possibilities of solar power from pokeberries are evident. Carroll enthuses:
“We could provide the substrate. If Africa grows the pokeberries, they could take it home. It’s a low-cost solar cell that can be made to work with local, low-cost agricultural crops like pokeberries and with a means of production that emerging economies can afford.”
Wake Forest University holds the first patent for fiber-based PV cells, granted by the European Patent Office.
Tags: dye sensitized solar cell, fiber cells, fiber-based solar cells, nanotechnology, pokeberries, pokeweed, solar cells, solar dye, solar technology
