Increased Life-Span for Solar Cells

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Increased Life-Span for Solar Cells
Scientists have found a way to increase the lifespan of solar cells by coating them with a material that converts ultraviolet photons into ones of visible light.

According to a report in New Scientist, this new technology, known as “photon conversion material” (PCM), converts harmful UV into longer wavelengths, enhancing efficiency of solar-energy conversion and reducing damage to cells.

Polymer solar cells used to convert sunlight to electricity are degraded by ultraviolet light, which limits their lifespan.

Yang Yang, a materials scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, US, has a simple solution. He suggests coating the solar cell with a material that converts ultraviolet photons into ones of visible light.



A longer lease of life for solar cells

The new "photon conversion material" (PCM) converts harmful UV into longer wavelengths, enhancing efficiency of solar-energy conversion and reducing damage to cells. This should help the solar cells last longer, as well as increase their electrical yield.

The PCM could be made of a liquid, a gel, nanoparticles or a solid, the researchers say. In experiments, they added the polymer blue polyfluorene to solar cells and found that it did indeed reduce the damage caused by UV light

Source: New Scientist News Service