Iil

Transparent
Solar Cells

COURSE GUIDE:
Prof. D. D. Thorat

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 CONTENTS

i. Overview
ii. Timeline
iii. A wondrous Invention
iv. Working Principle
v. Schematic
vi. Spectral Response
vii. Practical Uses
viii.Cost and Efficiency
ix. Merits
x. Demerits
xi. Prospects
xii. References
 OVERVIEW
Researchers are making transparent solar cells that could turn
everyday products such as windows and electronic devices into
power generators—without altering how they look or function
today. Their new solar cells absorb only infrared and ultraviolet
light. Visible light passes through the cells , so our eyes don’t
know they’re there. Using simple room-temperature methods, the
researchers have deposited coatings of their solar cells on various
materials and have used them to run electronic displays using
ambient light. They estimate that using coated windows in a
skyscraper could provide more than a quarter of the building’s
energy needs without changing its look. They’re now beginning
to integrate their solar cells into consumer products, including
mobile device displays.
 TIMELINE
The History of Solar Power

Jun 15,
• Photovoltaic effect observation
1839

Jun 15,
• First solar cell created
1883

Jun 15,
• Solar cells become popular
1920

Apr 25,
• First practical solar cell
1954
 TIMELINE

Dec 31,
• New age of solar cell use
1958

Dec 31,
• Better efficiency
1960

Sep 12,
• Solar powered homes
1974

Dec 31,
• Reflective solar concentrators
1989
 TIMELINE

Dec 31,
• Super efficiency
1994

Dec 31,
• Semi-transparent solar cells
2013

Jan 1,
• Fully transparent solar cells
2014

Jan 1,
• The age of solar power
2015
 A Wondrous Invention

 Energy needs are increasing daily.

 Conventional solar panels require vast areas of land.
 Transparent solar panels can be placed in anumber of
places.
 Thus, more electricity but less land wasted.

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 Working principle
 Appearance of normal transparent glass.
 The glass layer is towards the right.
 Photovoltaic coating is towards the left.
 Transparent luminescent solar
concentrator(TLSC) layer is used
 This layer helps to luminesce NIR and and UV light
 Thin strips of PV cells near the edge of the glass
produce electricity.
 Schematic

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 Spectral response

 The spectral response shows the wavelength of the

photon that are accepted
 Conventional PV cells absorb all light.
 Spectral Response

 Transparent solar cells allow visible light to pass

through absorbing
 Multiple peaks as all spectra of light are not absorbed.
 Practical Uses

o They were first installed in the forecourts of the Sainsbury’s

petrol stations.
o Few were also installed as a canopy at the Barbican Centre in
London.
o The latest installations for these innovative panels can be found
in the form of a transparent solar bus shelter in the center of
London’s canary Wharf.
o They can also be installed in greenhouses as both the roof and
walls, or even your conservatory and skylights.
o Using them in your home and garden can help to generate an
excellent amount of electricity for your household appliances.
 Cost

The cost of implementing the technology varies with the purpose and
application, solar cell efficiency, and other factors such as several sources
of potential cost savings over traditional solar systems. In some cases, the
processes being applied in fabricating the new transparent photovoltaics
are environmentally friendly and not energy-intensive. While the coatings
of the transparent PVs are deposited at nearly room temperature, so it can
be laid down on essentially any kind of surface. Whereas, in the fabrication
of conventional solar systems there’s no need to use glass.
These solar windows currently take a very long time before you see a
return on your investment. To go deeper into this we will take a look at
Sharp's offering, which actually has some cost information for us. In 2013
they estimated one square meter or 11 square feet would
cost approximately $2,000.
 Efficiency

Transparent solar cells are measured by their light utilization efficiency,

which describes how much energy from the light hitting the window is
available either as electricity or as transmitted light on the interior side.
Previous transparent solar cells have light utilization efficiencies of roughly
2-3%, but the indium tin oxide cell is rated at 3.5% and the silver version has
a light utilization efficiency of 5%.
The color-neutral version of the device was made with an indium tin oxide
electrode. A silver electrode improved the efficiency to 10.8%, with 45.8%
transparency.
In a step closer to skyscrapers that serve as power sources, a team led by
University of Michigan researchers has set a new efficiency record for color-
neutral, transparent solar cells.
The team achieved 8.1% efficiency and 43.3% transparency with an organic,
or carbon-based, design rather than conventional silicon. While the cells have
a slight green tint, they are much more like the gray of sunglasses and
automobile windows.
 Comparisons
Name of Solar
Year T%a (%) Jscb (mA cm−2) Vocc (V) FFd Ƞ%e (%)
Cell
Screen printing
DSSC 
2007 60% 16.25 0.779 0.73 9.2%

Near-Infrared
OPV 
2011 55 ± 3% 4.7 ± 0.3 0.62 ± 0.02 0.55 ± 0.03 1.7 ± 0.1%.
Polymer Solar
cell 
2012 66% 9.3 0.77 56.2 4.02%
Transparent
luminescent
Solar 2014 86 ± 1% 1.2 ± 0.1 0.5 ± 0.01 0.66 ± 0.02 0.4 ± 0.03%
concentrator
(TLSC)
Perovskite 2014 30% 10.30 1.074 57.9 6.4%
Tandem Semi-
transparent 2014 77% peak 17.5 1.025 0.71 12.7%
Perovskite 

Electrophoretic
Technique 
2015 55% 14.83 0.68 0.71 7.1%

Dip-coater  2015 ~70% 16.17 0.738 0.688 8.22%

Quantum Dot
Solar cell
2016 22.74% 12.83 0.58 0.52 3.88%

Quantum Dot
Solar cell 
2016 24% 0.56 18.2 0.53 5.4%
 Merits
I. Transparent solar panels can produce more power to your
commercial business or home, so it’s still a win-win to invest some
money for these panels. 
II. You can certainly save some money by using it to power your propel
fans, lights, bulbs and other electronic devices instead of using the
power from an electric utility. 
III. Transparent solar panels are also meant to ward off the complexity
of using traditional solar panels. 
IV. There will be no chore involved in establishing portable solar cells
both in your office and home.
V. Once installed, these transparent solar panels can bring you
alternative power which has a better amount of efficiency than its
traditional solar counterparts. 
VI. Transparent solar panels are also lightweight and very portable, you
can carry them from one place to the other without putting much
effort. 
VII.By using transparent solar cells, you will not just produce more
alternative power, but you will also lessen the use of coal.
 Demerits

I. Transparent solar panels can only produce less amount of power

so you will be needing to buy a large set of solar cells to power
up entire your house. 
II. Transparent solar panels won’t be able to power up the existing
electronic accessories in your house. 
III. If you will buy transparent solar cells you also have to pay for
the extra packed-in accessories since solar companies often
provide special sets of bulbs and fans to operate with the
translucent solar cells. 
IV. Intermittent sunlight can affect the performance of the
translucent solar panels and it can’t produce enough power. 
V. Translucent solar panels are made of glass, and having this
needs intense care particularly while handling them. Otherwise,
the panels will break.
 Prospects

☺ Research into this technology is still ongoing

☺ Engineers and scientists are trying to optimize the
performance of this device by using different
semiconductors and devices to increase efficiency
☺ Expected to be highly profitable
☺ It is expected that the first commercial
products will be used in mobile electronic
devices.
 References
1) Generating power from everyday surfaces .
Author: NANCY W. STAUFFER
http://energy.mit.edu/news/transparent-solar-
cells/
Accessed date: 22/2/2017
2)This fully transparent solar cell could make
every window and screen a power source.
Author: Jamie Lendino
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/188667
- a-fully-transparent-solar-cell-that-could-
make- every-window-and-screen-a-power-
source
Access date: 22/2/2017
3)http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/s

olar-panels-in-the-screens-of-smartphones-
could-power-the-devices-180954457/
Accessed date: 23/2/2017
4)http://www.nextbigfuture.com/2015/05/near-
term-transparent-solar-power.html
Accessed date: 22/2/2017