Lausanne, Switzerland – researchers of the federal Polytechnic school of Lausanne (FPSL) and university of Stanford developed and tested photovoltaic cells of new generation. A revolution in the field, and a world first in terms of technology.

Professor at the EPFL and designer of the system of solar cells with dyes, Grätzel Michael describes his discovery as a new method to capture light and transform it into electrical energy. By adding a second dye, solar cells are now able to respond to a larger portion of the light spectrum.

The solar cells commonly known as the Grätzel solar cell, was created in the early 90s. The professor of FPSL developed a system containing dyes which, like natural chlorophyl, are stimulated by the light and generate electric charges. The technique allows the production of solar cells especially effective in low lights and at lower cost.

The colors used by Michael Grätzel are sensitive only to a limited part of the light spectrum. Researches are conducted jointly by researchers at the EPFL and their American counterparts to extend the spectral sensitivity of the cell to red, green and blue visible light, and thus improve efficiency. “It is not possible for a single dye to be sensitive to the whole light spectrum,” says Khaja Nazeeruddin, researcher in the team of Michael Grätzel, “hence we have included a second dye”.

This mode of indirect transfer of energy is the starting point for the direct models. In the process of photosynthesis of the plants, certain chlorophyll molecules emit signals, that others receive before being put in motion in the processes of transfer of electrical charges.

For now, the model is being tested in the laboratories of FPSL, and the results are more encouraging.

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