Aluminium can be turned into rare metals. Silver is used as an electrode material in solar cells, accounting for 10-15% of manufacturing costs. Yet precious metal resources are limited.
Inspired by the increased use of photovoltaics, a British/Swiss startup has developed patented electrodes from graphene. Highly efficient, their chemical stability is also comparable to that of precious metals.
And they’re more cost-effective. The team’s goal: to print them onto solar cells as nanoparticles embedded in ink. A pilot project is underway with a Taiwanese manufacturer of perovskite solar cells.
In future, the electrodes could be used in batteries, LEDs or supercapacitors (substituting tamarind shells?). Or perhaps in semicircular solar cells. Interestingly, onions provide natural UV protection for solar panels.
