EU’s Seventh Framework Programme provides financial assistance to conduct a research project that aims to test all available combinations of organic and inorganic materials to deliver energy-efficient photovoltaic batteries and solar panels.
The ordered inorganic-organic hybrids using ionic liquids for emerging applications (ORION) project is being carried out by a total of 17 associates across eight European nations.
The ORION consortium aims to design a hybrid material with a unique set of properties. Started back in 2009, the project aims to design the new material’s structures. The partners want to develop a robust process to enable a polymer layer to bond with an oxide layer effectively.
Following the study of processing systems and materials, the project is aimed at implementing the results to applications such as unique battery configurations and hybrid solar cells. The project aims to develop efficient solar cells and to improve the power storage capacity of traditional batteries.
A few years after use, conventional batteries do not perform well due to cyclability failures. Batteries start to fail owing to periodic cycles of extraction and energy insertion. ORION specialists are aiming to quicken the unloading and loading cycle and to make them more stable.
Researchers are working on developing a photovoltaic technology that is less expensive than silicon. Castellón team’s lead researcher, Germà Garcia Belmonte stated that researchers have been exploring photovoltaic technologies to ensure cost-efficient production of solar cells. Some of the methods include using material deposition and inkjet systems. When the project is finished, the partners will develop the machinery and final product required to enable production at an industrial level and to commercialize the innovative technology.
Source: http://www.ruvid.org/