Solar power experts: Dr. Karsten Dierksen, Dr. Frank Rauscher and Dr. Werner Hoheisel (left to right) are contributing their knowledge of plastics such as polycarbonate to the development of cost-effective and long-lasting organic photovoltaic systems.
Solar-powered laptops, MP3 players and mobile phones are still at the prototype stage. This is because most of the present-day solar cells are made of silicon wafers. They are therefore rigid and cannot be shaped to fit the curved contours of modern housings, making them unsuitable for supplying electricity in portable devices.
Electricity from plastic films
The potential solution to the problem is called organic photovoltaics – electrical energy obtained from sunlight using flexible plastic solar cells. Stuck to mobile phones, handbags, jackets, cars, windows or walls, they could generate electricity wherever it is needed. However, the efficiency of the mini solar power units is still too low. Researchers at Bayer MaterialScience and Bayer Technology Services are using nanoparticles to try and make these solar cells more effective and economical. Read here to find out how.