Background

Presently, organic solar cells are extremely expensive due to the materials used. Additionally, they are inefficient due to a large amount of energy lost in the production process. This discovery offers an improvement in both cost and efficiency.

Technology

Researchers at Stony Brook University have discovered that the addition of graphene and metal or metal oxide-modified graphene can significantly improve the performance of organic polymer solar cells. The addition of graphene, metal-graphene, with and without additional polymers, increases organic polymer solar cell layer organization, thereby increasing its performance. This has potential to create a usable organic polymer solar cell that can deliver significant energy production without the high costs of solar-grade silicon.

Advantages

Increased organic polymer solar cell layer organization, thereby increasing its performance - Potential to create a usable organic polymer solar cell that can deliver significant energy production without the high costs of solar-grade silicon

Application

The creation of more efficient and cheaper solar panels.