Danish nano-scientist discovers revolutionary solar cell material

Martin Aagesen, a nano-scientist at Copenhagen University has discovered a new semiconductor material which reportedly can make solar cells cheaper and more efficient than those currently in use. Aagesen has established a company, Sunflake, in collaboration with Copenhagen University and Seed Capital, to produce solar cells with the new material.

 

Aagesen says: "Up to now it has only been possible to exploit a very limited amount of solar energy commercially, with materials which are expensive and difficult to make. Silicon is the basic material and hitherto it has had to be ultra-pure. We can carry out the process with less pure silicon while obtaining significantly more energy from Sunflake solar cells. The potential is undeniable and the patents are in place."

 

Jakob Steen Jensen, cleantech manager of Seed Capital and chairman of the board of Sunflake comments: "The potential of Sunflake technology and the support we are receiving from the Tech Trans unit at Copenhagen University, leads us to believe that we have an invention which can stimulate new thinking and bring about cost reductions in the solar cell industry. Energy exploitation and price of materials have so far dampened expectations in the solar cell industry, but we aim to radically change those expectations."   

 

The news was reported by professional journal Ingeniøren (The Engineer) and on Copenhagen University's website.

 

Link > Seed Capital