Flexible Integrated Concentrating Lenses for Solution-Processed Solar Cells

Unmet Need
Solar cells, also known as Photovoltaic cells (PV), are a clean renewable source of energy that uses the light from the sun to generate power. Two main ways to optimize the efficiency of solar cells are by creating new materials with excellent solar cell properties and by improving the architecture of the device to increase efficiency. Currently, Silicon based solar cells dominate the market, but this technology is energy intensive to produce, rigid, brittle, and require large amounts of material. Development in 3^rd generation solar cells promises cost effective solutions by optimizing two factors: the solar cell’s material and architecture. 3^rd gen solution-based materials allow for the use of a fraction of the material, are tunable to different light conditions, and can be flexible, lightweight, and semi-transparent for expanded applications. Unfortunately, 3^rd generation materials are currently less efficient than traditional Si-based solar cells. Thus, there is need in art for new technologies that can improve the 3^rd generation solution by improving efficiency and reducing cost.
 
Technology Overview
Johns Hopkins researchers have developed an economical method to maximize light absorption by mechanical design. They made compact concentrators for solar cells using 3D-printed plastic molds and flexible, transparent polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) lenses. Attaching mini-concentrator lenses (3^rd generation concentrators) to thin film solar cells can effectively enlarge the active area of the devices, compensate for film non-uniformity, increase the power output of the devices without adding more active material, and potentially increase the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the devices through improved open circuit voltage. Their lens transmits over 70% of the incoming solar radiation, and the resulting integrated system can deliver up to 20 times the short circuit current.
 
Stage of Development
The inventors have developed and tested a new 3^rd generation solar cell integrated with the concentrator.
 
Publications
Lin Y, et al. ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 1 (6), 2592–2599, 2018
 

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