Scientists from the New Jersey Technology Institute have proposed a new and better solar cell that is cheap to make and greatly increases the prospects to produce electricity using energy from the sun. The innovation is called graphene and new flexible solar panel technology.

A solar panel is simply a number of cells linked together. The size of both a cell and a panel can vary. Cells can range from the nanoscale to about a meter in length and height. Panels vary in size according to the incorporated cells; they do not have any real size limits apart from those dictated by the practicalities of handling and transport.

Cells harness radiation from the sun and use its energy to generate electricity. There are many ways in which to design a cell. Conventional cells use purified silicon, the same material used to produce computer chips. The NJIT cell does not use silicon, it uses an organic polymer instead. A silicon cell is expensive to produce. By contrast, a cell based on organic polymers, like the one developed at NJIT, is easy and cheap to produce.

When sunlight strikes a silicon cell, it agitates electrons in the silicon causing them to become charged, either negative or positive. The cell then separates the negative electrons from the positive ones and guides them to the proper electrode. An electric current then flows.

Most organic cells designed so far have at least two weaknesses. To begin, they cannot effectively capture the electrons excited in the organic polymer or material. Also, organic cells cannot separate negative and positive electrons and send them to the proper electrode. The NJIT-designed organic cell solves these weaknesses.

The NJIT cell specifies carbon Buckyballs be used with the organic polymer. The Buckyballs effectively grab excited electrons from the organic polymer. They also help separate the negative charged electrons from those that are positive charged.

A second innovation is to use carbon nanotubes, a molecular configuration of carbon in a cylindrical shape. The nanotubes are about 50,000 times smaller than a human hair. Because of their miniscule size, nanotubes join together to form snake-like structures that conduct electrical current very efficiently, better than conventional cooper wire.

In summary, Buckyballs grab and separate electrons; nanotubes ensure they flow to the correct destination. The net result is electricity. The NJIT cell grabs, separates and flows the electrons very efficiently. The scientists therefore believe their graphene and new flexible solar panel technology, is likely to become a commercial success and help the spread of electricity produced from sunlight. Before that can occur, the technology needs to be complete further proven technically and then commercialized.