Austria Vienna University of Technology researchers who first developed by a tungsten diselenide (WSe2) making a diode, according to the experiment shows that this material can be used for thin flexible solar battery.

 

Although graphene is considered one of the most promising electronic material, but not suitable for build solar cells, which is why the Vienna University of Technology research team began looking for reasons other similar material graphene, they want to find one kind of ultra-thin layer can be arranged but with better electronic properties of a material.

"Graphene electronic state is not very suitable for the development of solar cells," Thomas Mueller said. Therefore, he and the research team began looking for other materials ── it must be similar to graphene, it can be arranged in a manner stacked thin, and has better electrical characteristics.

 

 

Materials researchers later found that tungsten diselenide (WSe2), the main structure is composed of the upper and lower layer are connected by an intermediate layer of a selenium atom tungsten atoms. Such materials as graphene as WSe2 can absorb light, the light absorption can be used to generate electricity.

 

This films indeed thin and light about 95% can pass through the light , but the rest 5% of the light will be of absorbed by the material, and convert it into electricity. Therefore, its internal efficiency is very high. If multiple thin layers each stack, a large part of this incident light ray can be effectively utilized ── but sometimes this high transparency may have beneficial side effects.

 

"We can imagine the solar cell layer stack on the glass curtain, may allow some light into the building, but also to bring power available," Mueller said.

 

Most standard solar cells are made of silicon produced, not only quite cumbersome and inflexible. Although the organic material can be used for optoelectronic applications, but the degree of degradation is quite fast. "2D structure of a single atomic layer has a big advantage is its crystalline properties. The crystal structure adds to stability," Mueller explained.