Solar Power | Organic Photovoltaics

Imagine a T-shirt that runs you iPod, a pair of jeans that recharges your cell phone, and a beach umbrella that runs a TV. Sound far-fetched?

Okay, I will agree with you that it does.

Nevertheless, research into photovoltaics and solar energy has reached a point where these are definite possibilities.

What Are Organic Photovoltaics?

Organic Photovoltaics, or OPV for short, are new types of semiconductors which are based on organic materials.

Though they are still in the research phase, OPVs can be made as thin flexible sheets, and as such they can be incorporated into cloth or paper.

Due to the fact that they are flexible they can be mass-produced at low cost. So another result of this advanced research could be low-cost mass-produced inexpensive solar cells.

For more information you may also see Thin Film Photovoltaics.

What are Semiconductors?

Rest assured, whether you understand the below or not, it won’t affect whether a solar charging T-shirt will work for you (if it ever hits the market).

But I will try to explain it in simple terms, just so you have a better idea of what we are talking about.

The following is a brief description of semiconductors are.

Semiconductors (organic or not) are materials that have either too many free electrons, or have a scarcity of electrons.

Semiconductors with too many free electrons are called “N-type semiconductors” amongst scientific types of people.

Semiconductors that don’t have enough electrons are called “P-type”. P-type semiconductors have “holes.” Holes are places where there the atom “theoretically” should have an electron, but does not. (Which just goes to show that reality and theory don’t always match up.)

By combining materials that have these qualities, we are able to make electrical components such as transistors (transistors are devices which help regulate the flow of electricity).

Some semiconductors are sensitive to light when they are stuck together. It is these semiconductors that are used in photovoltaic cells. When they are exposed to light, a tiny electrical current is created. This is not a new discovery.

But, as stated earlier, it is new that we are able to create a semiconductor out of organic materials. And that opens the door to a whole new range of possibilities.

Incidentally, computer chips are usually made out of semiconductors. So this new discovery might have some interesting applications in the field of computers.

Humanized robots? Artificial intelligence? Who knows.

– by Anna Stone

For more information on solar power technology, please visit Anna’s Solar Power Store and Solar Power Blog.