UCF and Companions Goal Breakthrough in Photo voltaic Cell Effectivity
by Clarence Oxford
Orlando FL (SPX) Mar 19, 2024
The College of Central Florida, in collaboration with the College of Delaware’s Institute of Vitality Conversion, has launched into a cutting-edge undertaking funded by a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Division of Vitality Photo voltaic Applied sciences Workplace. The initiative goals to revolutionize the metallization strategy of silicon photo voltaic cells, probably enhancing their effectivity and lowering manufacturing prices, thus making photo voltaic power extra attainable for most of the people.
This groundbreaking metallization method focuses on the event of steel contacts on silicon photo voltaic cells, essential for extracting electrical currents. Historically, silver has been the steel of selection for these contacts attributable to its glorious high-temperature resistance and non-oxidizing nature. Nevertheless, silver’s excessive value presents a major monetary hurdle.
Kristopher Davis, the lead researcher and affiliate professor of supplies science and engineering at UCF, highlights the financial and useful resource challenges of utilizing silver. “Silver represents a significant expense in photovoltaic cell manufacturing, projected to account for 20% of the worldwide annual silver provide by 2027,” Davis defined. The group proposes copper as a viable, less expensive various, regardless of its susceptibility to oxidation and its impression on conductivity.
To deal with this problem, the analysis group plans to make use of laser expertise to warmth copper nanoparticles, successfully minimizing oxidation dangers. Davis is optimistic concerning the method, stating, “This methodology may considerably improve the effectivity of heterojunction photo voltaic cells whereas slashing manufacturing prices, probably fast-tracking photo voltaic power adoption by lowering value limitations for shoppers.”
The UCF analysis group, together with Aravinda Kar from CREOL, The School of Optics and Photonics, and Ranganathan Kumar from the Division of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, will work alongside Ujjwal Das and the group on the Institute of Vitality Conversion.
This undertaking is a part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, being certainly one of 19 chosen initiatives funded to drive down prices and enhance the effectivity of photo voltaic panel recycling processes underneath the Bipartisan Infrastructure Regulation.
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College of Central Florida
All About Photo voltaic Vitality at SolarDaily.com