New Type of Solar Cell Developed for Wearable Devices

The Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute announced on August 21 that Dr. Cha Seung-il and Dr. Lee Dong-yoon at the Nano Convergence Technology Research Center have developed a woven-type dye-sensitive solar cell.

The electrode structure of the solar cell is formed through a weaving process by using metallic and ceramic fibers. Then, dye is printed with the photo electrode in a screen printing process. The solar cell, having a cloth-like structure, is soft and flexible, and can be cut and formed into the desired shape. A lot of advanced countries are working on woven solar cells, but have failed to achieve similarity to the woven material, due to the textile tension and frictional force generated in the weaving process.

Battery efficiency is around 5 percent, a commercially viable level. The organization is going to transfer the technique through follow-up research.

The solar cell has a wide range of applications. For example, it can be inserted into or attached to a wearable device as a power source, and can also be employed for use in camping gear, curtains, residential buildings, and combat gear.

The research is available in the Scientific Reports journal of the Nature group.