Leaf Anatomy and 3-D Structure Mimic to Solar Cells with light trapping and 3-D arrayed submodule for Enhanced Electricity Production.

ABSTRACT: Plant leaves are efficient light scavengers. We take a 'botanical approach' toward the creation of next-generation photovoltaic cells for urban environments. Our cells exhibit high energy conversion efficiency under indirect weak illumination. We used two features of leaves to improve dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Leaves feature a cuticle, a covering epidermis, and palisade and spongy cells. Leaves are also carefully arrayed within the plant crown. To mimic these features, we first created a light-trapping layer on top of the solar cells and microscale-patterned the photoanodes. Then we angled the three-dimensional DSSCs to create submodules. These simple mimics afforded a 50% enhancement of simulated daily electricity production. Our new design optimizes light distribution, the phot

SUBMITTER: Yun MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6635402 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature