Дизайнерские солнечные батареи для оформления зданий разработали в НИУ МИЭТ

Scientists from the National Research University of Electronic Technology (MIET), in partnership with institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, have developed solar panels that can be used as elements of designer decoration for building facades. The scientific project involved the I.Ya. Postovsky Institute of Organic Synthesis of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IOS UrO RAS), the N.S. Kurnakov Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry, and the A.N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Financial support was provided by the Russian Science Foundation.

Dye-sensitized solar cells are created based on new metal-free dyes with a D-π-A architecture. A high degree of solar light absorption by the dyes is ensured by a developed π-conjugation system in the molecules due to efficient intramolecular charge transfer from the donor to the acceptor part of the dye. The cost of these dyes is known to be lower than the cost of similar commercial functional materials due to a complex of efficient and reliable approaches to the synthesis of metal-free dyes.

Alexander Steparuk, Junior Researcher at IOS UrO RAS

These panels for stained glass windows and mosaics are translucent, and they can acquire a certain color tone while generating electricity. This solution, according to the developers, will be in demand in construction and modern building design, especially since it does not cost so much.

The panels have already been tested in real meteorological conditions. Currently, scientists are negotiating with a number of manufacturers to release a trial batch of panels in production conditions. The launch of mass production of dye-sensitized solar cells based on metal-free dyes is planned within the next few years.