Why use organic photovoltaic solar cells (OPV’s) instead of the traditionally used silicon?
Most commercially available solar cells are made from a refined, highly purified silicon crystal, similar to those used in the manufacture of integrated circuits and computer chips. The high cost of these silicon solar cells and their complex production process has generated considerable interest in developing alternative solar cell technologies, such as organic photovoltaics. The benefits of using organic photovoltaics (OPV’s) include: • low cost, environmentally friendly production methods • light weight, flexible substrates will allow a marked change in how and where energy can be generated.
