Fraunhofer ISE develops natural solar cell with 14.9% efficiency

• The record was obtained with a 1.1 sq cm tool.

Researchers from German solar research institute the Fraunhofer ISE, in cooperation with the FMF Materials Research Center at the University of Freiburg, have actually have attained record effectiveness of 14.9% for a 1.1 cm2 organic solar cell.

The gadget stands for an innovation, given the struggles researchers have had releasing artificial organic chemistry-derived materials at anything aside from a small range.

The Fraunhofer scientists had actually formerly designed a cell design to divert electrical energy very successfully from the active cell surface. "When we achieved high performances with an industrial absorber product on little research laboratory cells, we needed to know whether this might likewise be achieved on the bigger location of 1.1 cm2," stated Fraunhofer researcher, Birger Zimmermann. "We were really satisfied with the outcomes due to the fact that we did not experience any losses."

Uli Würfel, head of the natural and also perovskite photovoltaics department at Fraunhofer ISE, and group leader at the FMF Freiburg, said: "We likewise have a few concepts on exactly how to more rise efficiency ... the next weeks and also months will certainly be really amazing."

The scientists now want to explore using their device in big scale, high-performance modules. "Together with industrial partners, we will remain to bring natural photovoltaics to market maturity," stated Fraunhofer director Andreas Bett.

The Fraunhofer-Freiburg study was executed under the 'H2OPV-- Organic photovoltaics to cover water reservoirs' project funded by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs as well as Energy.