Graphene is a two-dimensional material that has been shown to have remarkable properties in materials science and engineering. It has gained popularity as a promising candidate for various applications, including solar cells.
(when was graphene first used in solar cells/)
The first report on the use of graphene in solar cells dates back to 2013 by scientists at the University of Sussex in the UK. They showed that they could convert sunlight into electricity using a single layer of graphene as the active material. The scientists used the graphene layer to create an interface between the solar cell’s semiconductor layers and a transparent conductive layer. This allowed the light to pass through the graphene and be absorbed by the semiconductor layers, which generates electricity.
In 2014, a study published in Nature Materials showed that researchers could also use graphene to create more efficient solar cells. The researchers introduced a new method of manufacturing graphene-based solar cells, where they attached layers of graphene to the surface of existing solar cells to improve their efficiency. This process allowed them to create solar cells that were much larger than previous ones, but still had good performance.
In addition to its potential energy production capabilities, graphene has other advantages over traditional solar cells. For example, it is very lightweight and has a high surface area-to-volume ratio, which means that it can absorb more light per unit area. Additionally, graphene has a low electrical conductivity, which makes it ideal for use in electronic devices.
Despite these benefits, there are still some challenges associated with using graphene in solar cells. One major challenge is the difficulty in synthesizing large quantities of graphene from scratch. Currently, only a few thousand grams of graphene are available on the market, and the cost of synthesis is prohibitively high.
Another challenge is the stability of graphene under certain conditions. When graphene is exposed to water or other moisture, it can degrade over time and reduce its efficiency. Therefore, researchers need to find ways to protect graphene from moisture damage while still maintaining its useful properties.
(when was graphene first used in solar cells/)
Overall, graphene has the potential to revolutionize the field of solar energy. By creating highly efficient and stable solar cells using graphene, researchers can significantly increase our ability to generate clean and renewable energy. While there are still many challenges to overcome, the future looks bright for this promising technology.
