Nano Solar

From HeatSpring.com PV Boot Camp Discussion Board

Q:

Dear Dr,

Greetings from continental shelf of solar tech.

What is the role of nano materials technology in Solar panel manufacturing? One of my professor was doing research in the area of Nano materials for PV design When i studied. Could you please tell simply about the nano materials role in PV cells?

Regards

A:

There was a solar company called Nanasolar, but they are not around anymore: http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Nanosolar-Thin-Film-Solar-Hype-Firm-Officially-Dead

There are many intelligent researchers looking for a solar technology of the future that will revolutionize solar and bring down the costs. It would be great if this will happen, but so far we have not dramatically changed our technology since the first silicon PV was available in 1954.

Since then, there have been a constant supply of investors claiming that they have the new product and in about 2 years, it will be available in mass to the public. So far, nothing has happened, but it would be great if it did.

As for the nano materials, we hear talk of graphene solar cells, but I have learned to believe it when I see it.

All of that being said, I do support research in new materials, I just will not expect a breakthrough unless I see it going up on a roof for a decade. Research is noble and nobody would have invented PV without it.

Thanks,

Sean White

From HeatSpring.com PV Boot Camp Discussion Board