DuPont to lead solar cell research effort
Source: Associated Press/ July 24, 2007
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070724/NEWS01/70724002/-1/DW
DOVER — Chemical maker DuPont Co. will lead a federally funded effort to develop and test prototype high-efficiency solar cells that could improve the lives of U.S. military troops, the company said Monday. DuPont has joined with the University of Delaware to establish the Very High Efficiency Solar Cell Consortium, which initially will focus on developing affordable portable battery chargers based on ultrahigh efficiency solar cells. The announcement follows the university’s demonstration of a viable design for a solar cell with a potential efficiency increase of 30 percent.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has awarded the VHESC consortium $12 million to help fund a $20 million effort to develop and test prototypes, part of a three-year program that could total up to $100 million. Consortium officials noted that U.S. soldiers carry packs that weigh nearly 100 pounds, about 20 pounds of which consists of three-day supplies of batteries needed to power their gear.
According to DARPA, resupply of primary batteries is currently the third largest logistics pipeline burden for the military, behind only fuel and water. The solar cell research is aimed at providing soldiers more battery power at reduced weight, thus improving mobility, survivability and the availability of advanced battlefield technologies. With VHESC technology, solar rechargers could be integrated into battlefield devices such as night vision goggles, radios and GPS navigation systems, officials said.
“We believe the science being developed under this consortium can be transformative if the successes of the program to date can be transitioned from the research laboratory to engineering and manufacturing prototypes,” said Uma Chowdhry, chief science and technology officer for DuPont, which produces eight key materials used to make solar cells and modules.
The solar cell to be developed by the VHESC team uses an optical concentrating system that separates solar light into high, medium, and low energy bins and directs it onto light-sensitive cells that cover the solar spectrum. The new solar cell module also includes a wide-angle system that captures large amounts of light and eliminates the need for complicated tracking devices.
“DuPont believes that the technology developed in this program will have applications beyond military,” said Steven Freilich, director of research and development for materials science at DuPont. Freilich said commercial crystalline silicon solar cells currently convert photons into electricity at an average efficiency of about 14 percent.
DARPA has set an efficiency goal of 50 percent, and researchers led by University of Delaware professor Allen Barnett have attained an efficiency of almost 43 percent. Barnett said the new high efficiency solar cells could be in production by 2010.
“We are grateful to DARPA for its confidence in the university and very much look forward to working with DuPont and our other partners in industry, government and academia on this project, which will have wide application and will be of particular benefit to our men and women in the service,” said University of Delaware president Patrick Harker.