Thin film photovoltaics
Posted by Solar energy guru | Filed under Solar panels & photovoltaic cells
One of the main problems that has been discovered as the use of solar cells has soared is that the basic solar cell requires a high mass of energy-producing material in order to function correctly. Because this high amount of material is needed, solar cells and photovoltaic panels can be too expensive for the average homeowner to implement without putting a serious dent in their bank accounts. As a result, many scientists and environmental crusaders have been working to find ways of decreasing the amount of photovoltaic material needed to fill these cells. This is how they came up with thin-film photovoltaics.
Thin-film photovoltaics reduce the amount of mass of energy-producing material required in a solar cell. This is accomplished using several compounds that have energy production capabilities. Once materials with a greater mass are replaced with materials that require less mass to produce energy, alternative energy costs are reduced, making it more affordable for people to purchase solar cells and solar panels for their homes and businesses.
Several compounds are used in making thin-film photovoltaics. These compounds must contain materials that will absorb energy from the sun and participate in chemical reactions that cause the continuous production of energy. As the sun hits these compounds, units of energy called photons are released. These photons cause electron loss from one component of the compound to another. This continual exchange of electrons is what results in energy being produced. Cadmium telluride is one of the most prevalent compounds used in thin-film photovoltaics. This compound is formed with cadmium and tellurium, and is capable of absorbing light and producing energy. One of the major concerns of using cadmium telluride on a large scale is that cadmium is highly poisonous in high concentrations. However, this is the only compound that is really feasible for high-level production.
Copper-indium selenide is another compound that can be used in creating thin-film photovoltaics. This compound is desirable for this type of application because it absorbs light well and is also very efficient at producing energy. One of the major problems with using copper-indum selenide is that it is somewhat costly to use on a large scale. Scientists are working on technology that will make using this compound for thin-film photovoltaics more cost-effective. An adjustment to copper-indium selenide can be made by adding gallium to the compound. It then becomes copper indium/gallium diselenide. This compound creates the highest efficiency in thin-film photovoltaics and it replaces much of the indium used in copper-indium selenide with the much more readily available gallium.
The use of thin-film photovoltaics has many potential benefits for the environment and for users of this technology. Because thin-film photovoltaics require less energy-producing material, they are less costly to produce than traditional photovoltaic cells. This can ease the financial burden for consumers who want to switch to these environmentally-friendly energy producers, but haven’t been able to in the past due to high costs. Using thin-film photovoltaics can also increase the efficiency of using solar cells as a means of energy production. Residential use of thin-film photovoltaics can help homeowners to produce clean energy that is less costly than traditional forms of energy production. In addition, the cleaner energy can lead to fewer health problems caused by environmental factors stemming from the use of natural gas, electricity, and other energy sources.
January 21st, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Where can I buy thin film solar panels?
Barry