Non-siliceous solar cells closer
Invent a way to create easier and cheaper gallium arsenide cells
Researchers at Illinois University have developed a way to produce large scale gallium arsenide solar cells. Gallium arsenide cells are twice as effective as conventional silicon cells in their light-capturing capacity. Thus, in addition to solar cells, gallium arsenide allows the manufacture of infrared detection devices and much better components for mobile phones. In the case of solar cells, they convert 40% of the solar energy they receive into electricity.
Scientists have long known that gallium arsenide semiconductors are better than silicon, but so far their manufacture was very expensive. In extremely controlled conditions, thick wafers of gallium arsenide are usually made, and then only thin layers of their surface are used.
The system developed by Illinois researchers has alternated thin layers of gallium arsenide and aluminum arsenide. Then they have only had to chemically separate the layers and glue those of gallium arsenide onto glass or plastic surfaces.
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