New partnership for ruthenium-backed dye solar cell technology 16th October 2009
Dyesol announced yesterday (15th October) that it has signed a deal with Merck KGaA to advance a type of dye solar cell (DSC) technology that features ruthenium.
The Australian firm has developed a unit which involves an electrolyte, a pigment layer of titanium dioxide and dyes made from the precious metal in between glass.
In the opening stage of the partnership with the German chemical and pharmaceutical company, Dyesol intends to focus mainly on the creation of new electrolytes.
Further down the line, it is hoping to optimise them for volume production, while also devising strategies which will increase the durability of the relevant materials.
"Photovoltaic renewable energy sources are showing increasing potential worldwide. The cooperation with Dyesol offers us the opportunity to leverage valuable potential in this attractive market," said Dr Emil Aust, Senior Manager of Ionic Liquids at Merck KGaA.
The DSC technology functions with the help of natural light, which awakens electrons in the dye and allows them to be absorbed by the pigment - thus creating an electric current.
According to Dyesol, the partnership should yield more affordable solar cells that can operate with less sunlight than required by traditional silicon-based photovoltaics.
In addition to its qualities as a wear-resistant electrical contact, ruthenium is also used in single-crystal superalloys, such as those found in jet engine turbine blades.
Source:
Dyesol and Merck partner for dye solar cells (16/10/09)
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