SEMINAR REPORT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

While submitting this seminar report I would like to thank a few persons whose able
advice and co-operation made my work smoother. My foremost and heartier gratitude goes
to our principal, Mr. ABDUL HAMEED CP who provided me necessary facilities to
proceed with the seminar.

I hereby express my sincere gratitude to our Head of the Department of Electrical &
Electronics Engineering Mr. MUHAMMAD ASIF K and seminar guide Ms. SRUTHI K
for providing me with the entire necessary infrastructure to complete my seminar.

I hereby express my sincere gratitude to our tutor Mr. RAGESH P, Department of

Electrical & Electronics Engineering, for providing me with the entire necessary
infrastructure to complete my seminar.

I also express my sincere thanks to all the faculty members of Electrical and Electronics
Engineering Department for their kind co-operation and valuable suggestions during the
period of this work. I take this opportunity to thank all my friends who helped me
throughout this work and for their patient discussion and suggestion and for their timely aid.

Finally, I take opportunity to thank my parents for their blessings and suitable help.
Above all, I thank God Almighty for His abundant blessings without His blessings I would
not have been able to complete this venture

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ABSTRACT

Nanotechnology is the nexus of sciences. Nanotechnology is the engineering of tiny

machines - the projected ability to build things from the bottom up using techniques and
tools being developed today to make complete, highly advanced products. It includes
anything smaller than 100 nanometers with novel properties. As the pool of available
resources is being exhausted, the demand for resources that are everlasting and eco-friendly
is increasing day by day. One such form is the solar energy. The advent of solar energy just
about solved all the problems. As such solar energy is very useful. But the conventional
solar cells that are used to harness solar energy are less efficient and cannot function
properly on a cloudy day. The use of nanotechnology in the solar cells created an
opportunity to overcome this problem, thereby increasing the efficiency. This paper deals
with an offshoot in the advancement of nanotechnology, its implementation in solar cells
and its advantage over the conventional commercial solar cell.

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER NAME PG.NO

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 1
ABSTRACT 2
1 INTRODUCTION OF PLASTIC SOLAR CELL 5
2 SOLAR CELL 8
2.1 PHOTO VOLTAIC SOLAR CELL 8
2.2 SOLAR CELL STRUCTURE 9
2.3 BASIC DEFINITION 10
3 WORKING OF CONVENTIONAL SOLAR CELL 11
4 WORKING OF PLASTIC SOLAR CELL 13
5 INFRARED PLASTIC SOLAR CELL 14
5.1 IMPROVEMENTS 16
6 APPLICATIONS 18
7 ADVANTAGES 19
8 DISADVANTAGES 20
9 CONCLUSION 21
REFERENCE 22

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LIST OF FIGURES

FIG.NO NAME PAGE

1.1 PLASTIC SOLAR CELL 5
1.2 CURVE PLASTIC SOLAR CELL 6
1.3 PLASTIC SOLAR CELL SHEET 7
1.4 PLASTIC SOLAR CELL 7
2.1 STRUCTURE OF SILICON SOLAR CELL 10

2.2 SOLAR CELL WITH SURFACE CONTACTS 10

3.1 STRUCTURE OF PLASTIC SOLAR CELL 12
4.1 ELECTRONIC ENERGY LEVEL OF P3HT AND 13
PC60BM
5.1 INFRARED PLASTIC SOLAR CELL 14
5.2 PHOTO VOLTAIC PLASTIC SOLAR CELL 15
5.3 BASIC STRUCTURE OF PLASTIC SOLAR CELL 17

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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION OF PLASTIC SOLAR CELL

1.1 WHAT IS NANOTECHNOLOGY?

The pursuit of nanotechnology comprises a wide variety of disciplines: chemistry,

physics, mechanical engineering, materials science, molecular biology, and computer science.

1.1 PLASTIC SOLAR CELL

In order to the miniaturization of integrated circuits well into the present century, it is
likely that present day, nano-scale or nano electronic device designs will be replaced with
new designs for devices that take advantage of the quantum mechanical effects that dominate
on the much smaller ,nanometer scale .

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Nanotechnology is often referred to as general purpose technology. That is because in

its mature form it will have significant impact on almost all industries and all areas of society.
It offers better built, longer lasting, cleaner, safer and smarter products for the home, for
ammunition, for medicine and for industries for ages. These properties of nanotechnology
have been made use of in solar cells. Solar energy is really an abundant source that is
renewable and pollution free. This form of energy has very wide applications ranging from
small household items, calculators to larger things like two wheelers, cars, etc. they make use
of solar cell that converts the energy from the sun into required form.

1.2 CURVE PLASTIC SOLAR CELL

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1.3 PLASTIC SOLAR CELL SHEET

1.4 PLASTIC SOLAR CELL

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CHAPTER 2

SOLAR CELL

As the pool of available resources is being exhausted, the demand for resources that
are everlasting and eco- friendly is increasing day by day. One such form is the solar energy.
As such solar energy is very useful. After passing through the earth’s atmosphere, most of the
sun’s energy is in form of visible light and infrared light radiation. According to Wikipedia
solar radiation reaches the earth’s atmosphere with power of 1366 watts per square meter
(W/m^2). Since the earth is not flat, the surface nearer its poles is angled away from the sun
and receives much lesser solar energy than the surfaces near the equator. At present
conventional solar panels convert only 15% of sunlight into electricity, hence the efficiency is
low. Due to the construction process and materials used conventional solar panel have limited
number of applications. The development of new type of solar cells named as infrared plastic
solar cell created an opportunity to gain more energy from solar cells from its increased
efficiency and other use full applications.

2.1 PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR CELL

Photovoltaic effect is emergence of electric voltage in a system exposed to solar
radiation. With absorption of photons, charge carriers are excited into conduction band. The
mechanism of light induced electron transition to a higher energy state is similar to that of
photoelectric effect, where a photon carrying sufficient amount of energy frees an electron from
the surface of a metal. The photoelectric effect was explained by Albert Einstein in 1905.
Converting solar radiation into electrical energy is called photovoltaic (PV). Devices exploiting
PV effect are called solar cells, also photovoltaic cells or photovoltaic devices. Global
electricity consumption amounts to approximately 2·1014 kWh per year. Could solar cells
satisfy the world’s hunger for energy and how much of the land would be needed? The Sun
provides 1000 W/m2 of power density for a surface perpendicular to the Sun’s rays at sea level
on a clear day. The actual power at septic area varies with seasons and depends on the
geographic position of the area. It must be taken into account that the Sun shines only during
the day and that the angle of Sun’s rays varies during the day, if the PV devices do not rotate.

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We also estimate, that there is 70% of sunny days in a year. With a little of calculation, we
arrive at average power density of 120 W/m2 coming from the Sun, which we multiply by PV
device efficiency of 10% to get the power density obtained from PV. Dividing the consumption
by the power density obtained from solar cells, we get the area of solar cells needed, which is
approximately 1012 m2 or 0.7% of Earth’s land . By making a similar calculation only for
Europe, a continent with relatively high population and little sun, we find that we should cover
approximately 8% of Europe land to provide the whole Europe with electricity. That is quite a
lot, but fortunately, Sahara desert, with area of 9.4·1012 m2 is close enough to be exploited.
After these estimates, we see that solar energy could be one of the most promising energy
sources, alternative to the currently dominating fossil fuels. The problem is, however, very high
cost of PV, particularly crystalline silicon solar cells, which currently have the highest known
efficiency. Although there are cheaper alternatives to silicon, they lack of either efficiency or
chemical stability, or can not be prepared by fast processing techniques. In principle, efficiency
of solar cells is limited by the band gap of the material used, because the band gap has to match
a part of solar frequency spectrum. It is also connected with impurities in the material. Cheaper
materials often contain a lot of impurities, which can act as recombination centers for photo
generated charge carriers, thus lowering the efficiency and stability of a cell. Chemical
instability refers to light induced degradation in amorphous silicon solar cells or to the limited
number of redox cycles for electrolytes in novel solar cells.

2.2 Solar Cell Structure

We present the structure of a c-Si photovoltaic device. Crystalline silicon solar cell is composed
of two basic layers, the emitter, which is n-doped, and the base, which is p-doped
semiconductor silicon. The front contact has to be designed in a way that prevents shading of
the front surface. Because the bulk of the electron-hole pairs is generated near the surface, the
position of p-n junction is also near the surface. This prevents recombination of charge carriers
before they reach the junction, where they are separated by electric field.

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2.1 Structure of crystalline silicon solar cell

2.3 Basic definition

A single solar cell area is typically about 100 cm2, it generates a dc photovoltage of 0.5 -1
V and photocurrent of several amperes [12]. Because of low voltage and electric current,
cells are connected into modules, which produce standard voltage of 12 V. Modules are
further connected into strings. Due to the fluctuations in solar irradiation during the day, PV
systems also include components for charge regulation and storage. Parts of PV system are
illustrated in Figure 2.2

2.2 SOLAR CELL WITH SURFACE CONTACTS

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CHAPTER 3
WORKING OF CONVENTIONAL SOLAR CELL

Basically conventional type solar cells Photovoltaic (PV) cells are made of special
materials called semiconductors such as silicon, which is currently the most commonly used.
Basically, when light strikes the cell, a certain portion of it is absorbed within the
semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the
semiconductor. The energy knocks electrons loose, allowing them to flow freely. PV cells
also all have one or more electric fields that act to force electrons freed by light absorption to
flow in a certain direction. This flow of electrons is a current, and by placing metal contacts
on the top and bottom of the PV cell, we can draw that current off to use externally.
For example, the current can power a calculator. This current, together with the cell's
voltage (which is a result of its built-in electric field or fields), defines the power (or wattage)
that the solar cell can produce.
Conventional semiconductor solar cells are made by polycrystalline silicon or in the
case of highest efficiency ones crystalline gallium arsenide
But by this type of solar cell, it is observed that, only 35% of the suns total energy
falling on it could be judiciously used. Also, this is not so favourable on cloudy days, thus
creating a problem. This major drawback led to the thought of development of a new type of
solar cell embedded with nanotechnology. The process involved in this is almost the same as
explained earlier. But the basic difference lies in the absorption of the wavelength of light
from the sun.

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3.1 STRUCTURE OF PLASTIC SOLAR CELL

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CHAPTER 4
WORKING OF PLASTIC SOLAR CELL
The 200 nm thick layer is sandwich between electrodes produce about 0.7 volts. At
present time plastic solar cell can be manufactured in a solution in a beaker without vacuum
chambers or clean rooms.
Figure shows the electron energy levels of P3HT/PCBM blend system.

4.1 electronic energy level of P3HT and PC60BM

The electrons having energy band between 2.0Ev and 3.3eV can absorb by the active
layer, and exactions will be formed. Active materials with broad absorption band could be
used, in order to make better utilization of the sunlight. The negative charge will travel
through the lowest occupied molecular orbital level of P3HT, and positive charge will
travel through highest occupied orbital level of P3HT, and then the electrodes collect the
charges. Photo electric conversion process consumes 70% of charge. Highest occupied
molecular level and lowest occupied molecular lever of donors and acceptors should be
tuned carefully to minimize the loss.

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CHAPTER 5
INFRARED PLASTIC SOLAR CELL

Scientists have invented a plastic solar cell that can turn the suns power into
electric energy even on a cloudy day.

5.1 INFRARED PLASTIC SOLAR CELL

Plastic solar cells are not new .But existing materials are only able to harness the
sun’s visible light. While half of the sun’s power lies in the visible spectrum, the other half
lies in the infrared spectrum. The new material is first plastic compound that is able to
harness infrared portion. Every warm body emits heat. This heat is emitted even by man and
by animals, even when it is dark outside.

The plastic material uses nanotechnology and contains the 1 stgeneration solar cells
that can harness the sun’s invisible infrared rays. This breakthrough made us to believe that
plastic solar cells could one day become more efficient than the current solar cell. The
researchers combined specially designed nano particles called quantum dots with a polymer
to make the plastic that can detect energy in the infrared.

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With further advances the new PLASTIC SOLAR CELL could allow up to 30% of
sun’s radiant energy to be harnessed completely when compared to only 6% in today plastic
best plastic solar cells.

A large amount of sun’s energy could be harnessed through solar farms and used to
power all our energy needs. This could potentially displace other source of electrical
production that produce green house gases like coal.

Solar energy reaching the earth is 10000 times than what we consume. If we could
cover 0.1% of the earth’s surface with the solar farms we could replace all our energy habits
with a source of power which is clear and renewable.

The first crude solar cells have achieved efficiencies of today’s standard
commercial photovoltaic’s the best solar cell, which are very expensive semiconductor
laminates convert at most, 35% of the sun’s energy into electricity.

The solar cell created is actually a hybrid, comprised of tiny nanorods dispersed in
an organic polymer or plastic. A layer only 200 nanometers thick is sandwiched between
electrodes and can produce at present about .7 volts. The electrode layers and nanorods
/polymer layers could be applied in separate coats, making production fairly easy. And unlike
today’s semiconductor-based photovoltaic devices, plastic solar cells can be manufactured in
solution in a beaker without the need for clean rooms or vacuum chambers.

5.2 PHOTO VOLTAIC PLASTIC SOLAR CELL

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The technology takes advantage of recent advances in nanotechnology specifically the

production of nanocrystals and nanorods. These are chemically pure clusters of 100 to
100000 atoms with dimensions of the order of a nanometer, or a billionth of a meter. Because
of their small size, they exhibit unusual and interesting properties governed by quantum
mechanics, such as the absorption of different colours of light depending upon their size.
Nanorods were made of a reliable size out of cadmium selenide, a semi conducting material.

Nanorods are manufactured in a beaker containing cadmium selenide, aiming for rods
of diameter-7 nanometers to absorb as much sunlight as possible. The length of the nanorods
may be approximately 60nanometers.Then the nanorods are mixed with a plastic
semiconductor called p3ht-poly-(3-hexylthiophene) a transparent electrode is coated with the
mixture. The thickness, 200 nanometers-a thousandth the thickness of a human hair-is a
factor of 10 less than the micron-thickness of semiconductor solar cells. An aluminium
coating acting as the back electrode completed the device. The nanorods act like wires. When
they absorb light of a specific wavelength, they generate an electron plus an electron hole-a
vacancy in the crystal that moves around just like an electron. The electron travels the length
of the rod until it is collected by aluminium electrode. The hole is transferred to the plastic,
which is known as a hole-carrier, and conveyed to the electrode, creating a current.

5.2 IMPROVEMENTS:
Some of the obvious improvements include better light collection and concentration,
which already are employed in commercial solar cells. Significant improvements can be
made in the plastic, nanorods mix, too, ideally packing the nanorods closer together,
perpendicular to the electrodes, using minimal polymer, or even none-the nanorods would
transfer their electrons more directly to the electrode.

In their first-generation solar cells, the nanorods are jumbled up in the polymer, leading
to losses of current via electron-hole recombination and thus lower efficiency.

They also hope to tune the nanorods to absorb different colours to span the spectrum
of sunlight. An eventual solar cell has three layers each made of nanorods that absorb at
different wavelength.

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5.3 BASIC STRUCTURE OF PLASTIC SOLAR CELL

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CHAPTER 6
APPLICATIONS

1. Silicon possesses some nanoscale properties. This is being exploited in the

development of a super thin disposable solar panel poster which could offer the rural
dwellers a cheap and an alternative source of power. Most people living in remote
areas are not linked to national electricity grid and use batteries or run their own
generator to supply their power needs. Disposal solar panels can be made in thin
sheets with about 6-10 sheets stacked together and made into a poster can help them to
some extent in this regard. This poster could be mounted behind a window or attached
to a cabinet.
2. Like paint the compound can also be sprayed onto other materials and used as
portable electricity.
3. Any chip coated in the material could power cell phone or other wireless devices.
4. A hydrogen powered car painted with the film could potentially convert energy into
electricity to continually recharge the car’s battery.
5. One day solar farms consisting of plastic materials could be rolled across deserts to
generate enough clear energy to supply the entire planet’s power needs.

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CHAPTER 7
ADVANTAGES
Plastic solar cells are quite a lot useful in the coming future. This is because of the
large number of advantages it has got. Some of the major advantages are:

1. They are considered to be 30% more efficient when compared to conventional solar
cells.
2. They are more efficient and more practical in application.

3. Traditional solar cells are bulky panels. This is very compact.

4. Conventional solar cells are only used for large applications with big budgets. But the
plastic solar cells are feasible as they can be even sewn into fabric- thus having vast
applications.
5. Flexible, roller processed solar cells have the potential to turn the sun’s power into a
clean, green, consistent source of energy.

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CHAPTER 6
DISADVANTAGES

1. The biggest problem with this is cost effectiveness. But that could change with new
material. But chemists have found a way to make cheap plastic solar cells flexible
enough to paint onto any surface and potentially able to provide electricity for
wearable electronics or other low power devices.
2. Relatively shorter life span when continuously exposed to sunlight.

3. Could possibly require higher maintenance and constant monitoring.

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CHAPTER 7
CONCLUSION

Plastic solar cells help in exploiting the infrared radiation from the sun’s rays. They are
more effective when compared to the conventional solar cell. The major advantage they enjoy
is that they can even work on cloudy days, which is not possible in the former. They are more
compact and less bulky.

Though at present, cost is a major drawback, it is bound be solved in the near future as
scientists are working in that direction.

As explained earlier, if the solar farms can become a reality, it could possibly solve the
planets problem of depending too much on the fossil fuels, without a chance of even
polluting the environment.

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REFERENCE

1. The clean power revolution- Troy Helming

2. Solar energy-fundamentals, design, modeling, applications- G.N. Tiwari

3. Thin film solar cells next generation photovoltaic and its application- Y Hamakawa

4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/piis136970211&html=en-IN

5. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/plasticsolarcells&hl=en-IN

6. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/0612121036.html=en-IN

7. https://m.phys.org/news/plastic+solar+cells.html&hl=en-IN

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