Conductive Nanomaterial-based Solar Cells vs Conventional Solar Cells

When it comes to renewable energy, solar cells are one of the most popular and widely-used technologies. There have been many advancements in the field of solar cells, including the use of conductive nanomaterials. But are these new nanomaterial-based solar cells better than conventional solar cells?

Let’s compare them!

Efficiency

One of the most important factors to consider when it comes to solar cells is efficiency. This refers to how much of the light energy that hits the cell is converted into electricity.

Conventional solar cells have an efficiency of around 15-20%. On the other hand, conductive nanomaterial-based solar cells have been found to have efficiencies of up to 40%.

That's a significant increase!

Cost

Another critical factor in determining which type of solar cell is better is the cost.

Conductive nanomaterial-based solar cells are still in the development stage and can be relatively expensive to produce. Meanwhile, conventional solar cells are widely produced, and the cost has decreased significantly with technological advancements.

So far, conventional solar cells are still more cost-effective.

Environmental Impact

With our planet's health at the forefront of everyone's minds, it is important to consider the environmental impact of solar cells during their lifecycles.

Conventional solar cells contain heavy metals, which pose potential environmental hazards if not disposed of properly. Conductive nanomaterial-based solar cells have been found to be less environmentally damaging because of their lower concentration of heavy metals.

However, it's important to note that this issue can be mitigated by appropriate disposal protocols and recycling efforts.

Durability

The durability of solar cells is another important factor to consider.

Conventional solar cells have been found to have an average lifespan of about 25-30 years. Meanwhile, conductive nanomaterial-based solar cells are still in the development stage, and their long-term durability is yet to be determined.

Conclusion

In conclusion, conductive nanomaterial-based solar cells have higher efficiency rates than conventional solar cells. However, they are still relatively expensive to produce, and their long-term durability is unknown. At this point, conventional solar cells are still more cost-effective and have a proven track record of durability.

When deciding which type of solar cell to use, it's essential to consider efficiency, cost, environmental impact, and durability to make an informed decision.

References:

• Wang, Zhiqiang, et al. "A review of conductive polymer/nanomaterial-based solar cell research." Journal of Materials Chemistry A 8.42 (2020): 22182-22212.
• Kalogirou, Soteris A. "Solar energy engineering: processes and systems." Academic Press, 2013.