This document summarizes a study on transparent solar cells. It describes how transparent solar cells can be placed on windows and other structures without altering their appearance. The cells absorb infrared and ultraviolet light while allowing visible light to pass through. This allows structures to generate electricity from ambient light without needing additional land area for conventional solar panels. Researchers have deposited coatings on glass and other materials to demonstrate prototypes. They estimate transparent solar cells on skyscraper windows could generate over a quarter of the building's energy. Future applications may include integrating the cells into displays of electronic devices.

1. Study on
Transparent
Solar Cells
COURSE INSTRUCTOR:
RETHWAN FAIZ
Image hosted by: bloomberg.com

2. SUBMITTED BY:
1. Mostafa Mahjabin
 13-22907-1
 2.Arinta Farzana Ava
 15-28386-1
 3. Progya, Parmita Majumder
 15-28343-1
 4.Roy Karabi
 15-28432-1
 5.Sarker,Anindya
 13-23386-1

3. A Wondrous Invention
 Energy needs are increasing daily.
 Conventional solar panels require vast areas
of land
 Transparent solar panels can be placed in a
number of places
 Thus, more electricity but less land wasted.
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4. Working principle
 Appearance of normal transparent glass.
 The glass layer is towards the right.
 Photovoltaic coating is towards the left.
 Transparent luminescent solar
concentrator(TLSC) layer is used
 This layer helps to luminesce NIR and and UV
light
 Thin strips of PV cells near the edge of the
glass produce electricity.

5. Schematic
Image hosted by: energy.mit.edu

6. Spectral response
 The spectral
response shows the
wavelength of the
photon that are
accepted
 Conventional PV cells
absorb all light.
 Transparent solar
cells allow visible light
to pass through
absorbing
 Multiple peaks as all
spectra of light are
not absorbed.
Image hosted by: energy.mit.edu

7. Practical uses,
applications & costs
 Substitute for traditional glass windows
 Cell phone screen Image hosted by: bloomberg.com
Image hosted by: bloomberg.com

8. Merits and
demerits
Merits
 Aesthetically pleasing
when used as glass
windows
 Glass can still be
colored as murals or
paintings will be behind
the PV layer
 Profitable as it can be
laid on already built
structures
 No extra land needed
 Reduced electricity
consumption from power
plants
 Cells phone integration
will lead to self charging
phones
Demerits
 Still no widespread use
as further research is
going on for
commercial and
household use
 Current prototypes are
costly. But price is
expected to drop
corresponding to
breakthroughs.

9. Future
Prospects
 Research into this technology is still ongoing
 Engineers and scientists are trying to optimize
the performance of this device by using
different semiconductors and devices to
increase efficiency
 Expected to be highly profitable
 It is expected that the first commercial
products will be used in mobile electronic
devices.

10. OVERVIEW
Researchers are making transparent solar cells that could
turn everyday products such as windows and electronic
devices into power generators—without altering how they
look or function today. Their new solar cells absorb only
infrared and ultraviolet light. Visible light passes through the
cells , so our eyes don’t know they’re there. Using simple
room-temperature methods, the researchers have
deposited coatings of their solar cells on various materials
and have used them to run electronic displays using
ambient light. They estimate that using coated windows in a
skyscraper could provide more than a quarter of the
building’s energy needs without changing its look. They’re
now beginning to integrate their solar cells into consumer
products, including mobile device displays.

11. References
1)Generating power from everyday surfaces .
Author: NANCY W. STAUFFER
http://energy.mit.edu/news/transparent-solar-
cells/
Accessed date: 22/2/2017
2) This fully transparent solar cell could make
every window and screen a power source.
Author: Jamie Lendino
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/188667-
a-fully-transparent-solar-cell-that-could-make-
every-window-and-screen-a-power-source
Access date: 22/2/2017

12. 3)http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/s
olar-panels-in-the-screens-of-smartphones-
could-power-the-devices-180954457/
Accessed date: 23/2/2017
4)http://www.nextbigfuture.com/2015/05/near-
term-transparent-solar-power.html
Accessed date: 22/2/2017