2-DTech, British maker and supplier of 2D materials and University of Manchester spin-off, announced cooperation with Australian solar technology company Dyesol to develop graphene-enhanced solid state dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells. This project follows the £98,000 grant from InnovateUK that 2-DTech received in order to to partner up with Dyesol to explore solid state dye-sensitized solar cells.
Such thin film solar cells are relatively inexpensive to make and have numerous deployment advantages, but their use is hindered by lower power conversion efficiency and shorter operational lifespans than crystalline silicon PV cells. This project aims to explore the possibility of incorporating graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) within the perovskite charge collecting regions of solid-state dye-sensitised solar cells so that efficiency levels can be boosted.
The option of monolayer graphene encapsulation of the entire cell can also prevent moisture from entering, which will increase the durability in addition to reducing the external toxicity of solar cells based on these materials.
In November 2014, 2-DTech entered an agreement with the NGI to become a project partner.