Graphene alternatives to traditional silicon application in the field of solar cells1

China to achieve in space to build a megawatt solar power stations, will face many unprecedented challenges. In order to achieve this ambitious goal, China has established the testing facilities in chongqing, and funding for this project to space exploration budget of $8 billion, the scale is tied the money of the United States.

why China should stick to the construction of the large engineering? This is because the space station if fully put into operation, can provide a steady stream of energy to the earth, relieve the tense situation of domestic resources. Although project idea is still at an early stage, Chinese scientists have begun to many specific issues to explore. Such as solar power plants will weigh about 1000 tons, of all the equipment into space is huge problem; Atmospheric microwave radiation influence on power plants with and without; The existing material technique can provide help for the space facilities, etc. Thus, in order to compete for space resources in China, and spare no efforts.

many solar energy research scientists, is interested in direct heating with solar batteries. Technology in the production of solar cells is currently under a thin piece of silicon, put a thinner piece of soaked in boron silicon wafers, can the solar energy directly into electricity. The light in the upper, make electronic migrated to the lower, which produce voltage difference between the two layers.

we know of the silicon into monocrystalline silicon, the manufacturing cost is extremely high, only in some special cases, because of easy to use, you can ignore the price factor. Solar power plants use solar battery power supply, can imagine how high manufacturing costs. If the emergence of low cost, excellent performance of new materials to replace silicon is extremely beneficial.

it is well known that graphene as black gold material in aerospace, energy, materials science has a broad application prospect, is seen as a revolutionary materials in the future. Today, graphene has been widely used in many areas, and because of its high safety, green environmental protection, the battery life is strong advantage, become a excellent electrode materials. Graphene good conductive heat conduction performance has been developed by scientists and related technology has tend to mature, related products to achieve production. If will replace the traditional graphene wafers, application in the field of space, can save resource and cost.

if the plan goes well, China's space solar power is expected to complete built and put into operation in 2030. With the passage of time, the new material graphene in technology will have more breakthroughs. If the next step in the sky to build a bigger petascale solar power stations, perhaps now is more convenient than the first.