Super Thin Solar Cells

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GKhan's picture

I wonder how much power per sqft compared to traditional they generate. To replace traditional cells the issue is space not weight. But this could have application for many other places

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Bobbob's picture
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Not sure - you're right that they don't explicitly say.  But given the light weight and fact that it's printable suggests interesting potential applications in aerospace and even military/infantry.  Nice to see they're working to get ahead of the waste issue too (those 2 waves they talk about).

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daftcunt's picture
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3:07: 300W/kg, 18 times more than traditional solar cells.

The panels on my roof are 1,5 sqm-ish and deliver 450Wp each, so approx 300W/sqm. This comparison suggests that the new tech will produce a lot more power per sqm than traditional panels, most likely not 18 times (as conductor size will become an issue rather than how thin you can spread the material) but even if it is "only" 5 or 10 times as much IRL this really looks like a game changer because you can literally stick them anywhere (also for self charging electric cars). 

 

Exciting times!

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Nakey's picture
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hate to break it to you but it's "18 times more power per kilogram" not 18 times more power than a conventional solar panel i'm afraid. they're probably still only 15-20% efficient.

 

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daftcunt's picture
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"18 times more power per kilogram"

 

That is what I wrote. What is your point?

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Bobbob's picture
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Nakey is correctly pointing you back to the fact that surface area and not weight will be gateway in most instances. Agree that when launching into space weight is key and therefore a gamechanger.

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Nakey's picture
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thank you.

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daftcunt's picture
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so you see no relation whatsoever between weight and surface area? Do you think the new tech will be so much heavier that one cannot extrapolate at all from weight to size? Did you actually even try to understand the comment you were replying to?

 

I am used to brainless responses by bobbledibob, you I thought were a little more technically switched on....

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Bobbob's picture
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You speed-read replies faster than your copy of King James New Testament and fucked up. So you're moving to attack on a science thread. At least you're consistent. 

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Nakey's picture
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*sigh*

 

In simple terms, if a traditional 1040x1900mm monocrystalline solar panel weighing 21.6Kg produces 400 watts under full sun, a 1040x1900mm printed solar panel of this new type weighing under a kilogram will produce 400w under full sun.

 

and is easier and cheaper to make.

 

and is flexible

 

and can be stuck to curved surfaces.

 

Does that clear things up?

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daftcunt's picture
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"In simple terms, if a traditional 1040x1900mm monocrystalline solar panel weighing 21.6Kg produces 400 watts under full sun, a 1040x1900mm printed solar panel of this new type weighing under a kilogram will produce 400w under full sun."

I see your point but I don't know the weight proportion of carrier material on the current cells, do you?

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Nakey's picture
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wait, what? the majority of the weight in a monocrystalline silicon solar panel comes from the glass plate holding it together. the solar cells can't survive with out a rigid structure to surround it.

using: https://www.omnicalculator.com/construction/glass-weight

based on specs for: https://solaroutlet.com.au/products/solar-panel-rec-twinpeak5-mono-400w-half-cell-all-black-30mm-mc4-rec400tp5-black

the glass in that pannel weighs: aprox 15.58kg

if you want to know the weight of the anodised aluminium frame, highly resistant polymer back sheet holding this thing together,and wiring infrastructure you're on your own. i have no idea how much the solar cells weigh and it really doesn't matter in this case.

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daftcunt's picture
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it doesn't?

I think there is a good chance that the "old type" cell is equally as thinly spread between the carrier and protection layers than the "new" stuff. the electrical connections probably are insignificant.

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daftcunt's picture
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Let me guess the "T" in MIT stands for "Tesla", Elon revealed this tech years ago after all. ROFL

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Bobbob's picture
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Ha! You're a lot more fun when you stick to subject matter you understand.

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daftcunt's picture
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You wouldn't detect sarcasm if it hit you with a stick. 

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Bobbob's picture
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Yeah? Open Schrodinger's box and let's see if you're stick is dead.

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