On the 18th, Nature published a new method developed by the University of Michigan to induce electrons to "walk" through fullerenes, a distance far beyond what was previously considered.The study promoted the use of organic materials in solar energy Battery and semiconductor manufacturing potential, or will change the relevant industry rules of the game.
Unlike inorganic solar cells, which are widely used today, organic materials can be made into inexpensive, flexible carbon-based materials such as plastics, and manufacturers can mass produce roll materials of various colors and configurations and laminate them seamlessly to almost any surface However, the poor conductivity of organic matter, hinder the progress of relevant research.Over the years, the poor conductivity of organic matter is considered as inevitable, but the situation is not always the case.Recent study found that electrons in the fullerene layer It's incredible how many centimeters you can move in. In today's organic batteries, electrons can travel only a few hundred nanometers or less.
Electrons move from one atom to another to form a current in a solar cell or electronic component. In inorganic solar cells and other semiconductors, silicon is widely used, and its tightly coupled atomic network allows electrons to easily pass through; however, Organic materials have many loose bonds between individual molecules that trap electrons, a fatal weakness of organic matter.
However, recent findings indicate that it is possible to tune the conductivity of fullerenes depending on the application. In organic semiconductors, the free movement of electrons has far-reaching effects. For example, the surface of organic solar cells must now be covered by a layer of conducting electrode, , But free-moving electrons allow the collection of electrons away from the electrodes.On the other hand, manufacturers can also reduce the conductive electrodes into an almost invisible network for the use of transparent cells on windows and other surfaces Flat road.
New discoveries open up new worlds for organic solar cell and semiconductor device designers, and the possibility of remote electronic transmission offers multiple possibilities for device architectures, placing solar cells on commodity products such as building facades or windows, And almost invisible way to generate electricity.
It is understood that the subject of the study is "centimeter-level electron diffusion in a photovoltaic organic heterostructure" and is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot program and the Air Force Office.
