Fibrous SiC Carrier Layers for Flexible Photovoltaic Fabric
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional silicon-based photovoltaic devices are rigid and inflexible, limiting their adaptability to on-site conditions, while polymer solar cells face challenges in mechanical flexibility and efficiency due to complex structures and short exciton diffusion lengths.
Innovation Solution
A photovoltaic device with two carrier layers, one n-doped and the other p-doped or undoped, coated with a photovoltaic donor material, forming a flexible and robust fabric-like structure that enhances mechanical flexibility and efficiency by direct electron transfer and hole release upon light irradiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If silicon-based photovoltaic elements are used, then high efficiency is achieved, but mechanical flexibility is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid silicon-based photovoltaic elements with thin film structures comprising organic photoconductive layers and flexible substrate materials. This enables the photovoltaic device to achieve mechanical flexibility while maintaining photoactive functionality through the use of flexible substrates and thin film deposition techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures combining organic photoconductive polymers with flexible substrate materials and conductive layers. This composite approach allows the integration of photoactive properties with mechanical flexibility, resolving the contradiction between efficiency and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If polymer solar cells are used, then mechanical flexibility is improved, but efficiency decreases due to short exciton diffusion lengths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-layered photoactive structure with donor and acceptor materials arranged in specific configurations. This local optimization of material properties and layer arrangements enhances exciton separation efficiency at interfaces while maintaining the flexibility benefits of polymer materials throughout the device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional planar polymer solar cell structures to three-dimensional fibrous carrier layers. This dimensional change increases the surface area for light absorption and exciton generation while providing flexible, fabric-like mechanical properties that resolve the efficiency-flexibility trade-off.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional polymer solar cell structures are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but mechanical strength and flexibility are compromised by complex multi-layer structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional layers into integrated fibrous carrier structures where support, photoactive, and conductive functions are combined in a single fabric-like component. This reduces manufacturing complexity while enhancing mechanical flexibility and strength compared to conventional multi-layer polymer solar cells.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution results in a flexible, robust, and highly efficient photovoltaic fabric that can be processed into textiles, offering increased photovoltaically effective area and improved performance compared to conventional devices, suitable for various applications including clothing and aircraft components.
Implementation Method 1
Photovoltaic effects on organic photoconductive materials have been known for a few decades
Implementation Method 2
one carrier layer has n-doped electron donors and the other carrier layer has acceptor material as p-doped or undoped electron acceptors
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 2c
AI summary
The invention relates to a photovoltaic device (1), comprising a photovoltaic acceptor material (7) and a photovoltaic donor material (10), in which the photovoltaic device (1) comprises at least two carrier layers (2, 3), of which one carrier layer (2) has n-doped electron donors (6) and the other carrier layer has acceptor material (7) as p-doped or undoped electron acceptors, wherein the carrier layers (2, 3) are arranged with respect to one another such that they touch one another at least in sections, and the carrier layers (2, 3) are wetted or coated in filmlike fashion with a photovoltaic donor material (10). The carrier layers (2, 3), which are formed in particular from fibres (6, 7) composed of silicon carbide SiC, enable textile solar cells. Methods for producing the fibres (6, 7) and for producing the photovoltaic device (1) and textile structures formed therefrom are furthermore described. A photovoltaic device (1) is furthermore proposed, in which carrier elements of an individual carrier layer have a corresponding photovoltaically active construction by virtue of correspondingly applied layers.