Project Description

Utilization of Graphene-Based Polymeric Solar Cells in Alternative Energy Applications.

As our dependence upon renewable energy becomes more apparent, the need for efficient solar cells becomes more crucial, especially when they are one of the easiest and cheapest ways to generate clean energy. The basic principle of a graphene-based solar cell is essentially not that different from current inorganic/silicon solar cells being produced today, with the exception that some of the materials currently in use are replaced with graphene derivatives. As with any device or material, there are parameters that can be improved to increase the operational efficiency.

Polymer-based materials are widely used in various applications such as protective coatings, automotive industry, aerospace industry, electronics industry, and alternative energy. When polymeric materials are mixed with other materials, a composite material can be obtained with excellent mechanical, physical and thermal properties. Also, Graphene is considered one of the modern materials science discoveries, has multiple special properties in terms of thermodynamics, mechanics, and physics. When graphene is mixed with a polymer like polyethylene, a new composite material can be obtained that is harder than diamond and more elastic than rubber. Also, graphene is known for its high electrical photovoltaic properties. As a result, graphene based polymeric solar cells can be produced with excellent flexibility and high solar energy absorbance properties.

For graphene-based solar cells, the two standout parameters that can potentially change the nature of the device are the number of graphene layers in the device and mixed polymer to the graphene will increase the efficiency more as it become more hardness, high electronic conductivity, high flexibility and transparency