SOLAR CELLS IN TEXTILES

VIBHAV.H.BHIDE, RAJKUMAR.R.SHINKAR
vibhavbhide@gmail.com
raj.shinkar1@gmail.com
(Textile Technology)
(D.K.T.ES textile and engineering institute), Ichalkaranji, Kolhapur
ABSTRACT:
The conventional method of producing energy with the help of fossil fuels
or non-renewable sources of energy which harms the nature and is on the
verge of exhaustion has a tremendous need of replacement which puts
forward the option of solar energy in front of mankind. Solar power which
has an unending source, gives us the purest form of power, is available
free of cost and is cent per cent eco-friendly needs to be utilized for the
faster enhancement in science.
But as the solar cell or the photovoltaic cell has a low conversion factor
and requires a lot of space and material investment some human super
brains have discovered its super applications by making it work in the
textiles and by that means you wont be short of electricity as far as you
are not in a darkened room.
This comes as a boon for the people of the developing areas as they do
not have the reach of electricity yet. Also for the military and trekkers who
have to carry batteries for the sake of electricity. It would also be making
the human life much easier when we will not need to plug in our mp3s,
smart phones etc daily.
This is done by embedding solar cells in the fabric and the most recent
development is by making the flexible solar cell fibres which can be
further woven into apparels. This also increases the efficiency factor as it
processes the light coming from every angle. The solar fibre is a
composite of materials including the PEDOT:PSS layer, the photoactive
layer, and a metal-base electrode, and finally a covering of polypropylene
(PP).
Our review has it all..
Keywords: Photovoltaics, Organic Solar Cell Fibre, Organic Solar
Cell Fibre, PEDOT:PSS Layer, Semiconductors, Photonics
1. INTRODUCTION:

Energy management including production, distribution, and usage of

energy is an important issue for all the countries. For generating
electrical energy, use of fossil based fuels through long ages, caused
environmental problems, in recent years. Renewable energy
technologies using power of wind, sun, water, etc. can be remedies to
hinder negative effects of pollution, emissions of carbon dioxide and
irreversible climate change problem, which it caused.
Photovoltaic technology, which converts photons of the sun into
electrical energy by using semiconductors, is one of the most
environmental friendly sources of renewable energy. Solar cells are
used in many different fields such as in solar lamps and calculators, on
roofs and windows of buildings, satellites and space craft. Another
addition in the above is SOLAR TEXTILES which has been researched
and developed rapidly since the last decade. It includes usage of solar
cells in textile structures (fibres, fabrics and garments) and
accessories (bags and suitcases). Production of electrical energy from
sunlight using solar cells (photovoltaic technology) via easy and
inexpensive techniques is also very important and interesting. A
photovoltaic textile, which is formed by combining a textile structure
with a solar cell, and on which carries physical properties of textile and
working principle of solar cell together, can generate electricity for
powering different electrical devices. Photovoltaic fiber providing more
compatibility to textiles in terms of flexibility and lightness owing to its
thin and polymer-based structure may be used in a wide variety of
applications such as tents, jackets, soldier uniforms and marine
fabrics.
2. TYPES OF SOLAR CELL FIBRES:
The Solar Cell has two types:
1. Inorganic Semiconductors.
2. Organic Semi-Conductors.
2.1. Inorganic semiconductor Technology:
Today, silicon based solar cells having the highest power conversion
efficiency are dominated in the market; however they have still high
production costs. Photovoltaic technology, compared to traditional
energy production technologies, have interesting features such as
using endless and abundant source of suns energy, direct,
environmental friendly and noiseless energy generation without the
need of additional generators, customization according to
requirements, having low maintenance costs and portable modules
producing power ranging between milli watt to megawatts even in
remote areas, which make it unique. A photovoltaic system can
convert sun light into electricity on both sunny and cloudy days.

Integration of these solar cells into apparels and fabrics, which cells
are positioned in/on the textile, can provide required electrical energy
for the devices like Laptops, smart phones, MP3s. Photovoltaic textiles
can be formed by integrating solar cells into textile structure or
making textile structure itself from photovoltaic materials.
Photovoltaic textile research needs cooperation of different sciences
consisting of textile, electronics, physics and chemistry. Incorporation
of solar cells with fibres and textiles that are flexible can extend the
applications of photovoltaics from military and space applications to
lighting and providing power for consumer electronics of humankind in
daily usage. Textile based solar cells are also named as photovoltaic
textiles, solar textiles, energy harvesting textiles, solar powered
textiles in the literature. Position of the flexible solar cells on fabric is
also important to take efficient irradiation from the light source. Places
of needed wires, controllers and batteries, which have to be
lightweight under the cloth, are needed to be concerned to develop
viable photovoltaic textiles. Fibre based photovoltaics take the
advantage of being flexible and lightweight. Integration of photovoltaic
fibres into fabrics and clothes is easy to manufacture wearable
technology products. Small surface of a fibre also provide large area
photoactive surfaces in the case of fabric, so higher power conversion
efficiency can be obtained. Traditional solar cells using silicon based
semiconductors are generally rigid and are not suitable to be used
with textiles. The thin film solar cells based on inorganic
semiconductors can be made flexible and however they are more
suitable for patching onto fabrics. A potential alternative approach to
conventional rigid solar cells is organic solar cells, which can be
coated on both rigid and flexible substrates using easy processing
techniques. In addition, the polymer based organic solar cells can be
used to produce fully flexible photovoltaic textiles easily, in any scale,
from fibres to fabrics and using low-cost methods.
2.2. Organic semiconductor Photovoltaic Technology:
Organic semiconductors consist of different chemical structures
including polymers, oligomers, dyes, pigments, liquid crystals etc. In
carbon-based
semiconductors,
conductivity
is
obtained
by
conjugation, which single and double bonds between the carbon
atoms alternates. Conjugated organics are challenging materials for
solar cells owing to their semiconducting and light absorbing features.
Organic solar cells as a promising renewable energy source, organic
photovoltaics have attracted attention during the last decades
resulting in significant progress in cell efficiency exceeded 5% (AM1.5,
1000 W/m2) in the conventional bulk hetero junction solar cell

architecture consisting of a polymer donor and fullerene acceptor

blend. Organic solar cells achieving photovoltaic energy conversion by
organic semiconductor or conductor are compatible with flexible
substrates like textiles for use in novel application areas. Photovoltaic
effect, production of electricity by converting photons of the sunlight,
occurs in an organic solar cell by the following steps:
Absorption of photons of the light in the solar cell and exciting
(electron-hole pair) creation; separation of charges and carriers
generation from exciting dissociation; transport and then collection of
charges by respective electrodes.
Among the photovoltaic technologies, organic solar cells are the most
suitable ones to textile structures in terms of favourable features such
as flexibility, lightness, cost-effectiveness and usage performance.
Studies about photovoltaic textiles consider two main approaches:
First, solar cell is formed elsewhere and then, photovoltaic structure is
integrated in/onto textiles using various techniques, i.e. patching.
Second, solar cell is formed in fibre or textile form. So, it can be used
as fibre itself or can form textile structures, which are partly or
completely photovoltaic. Shelf lifetime, cost and efficiency of organic
solar cells are still important issues for also photovoltaic fibres and
textiles to be overcome before commercialization. Utilizing flexible
solar cells with textiles can open many application fields for
photovoltaic textiles such as electronic textiles besides powering
movable electronic devices. In recent years, attention on fibrous and
flexible optoelectronic structures is increased in both scientific and
industrial areas in terms of lightweight, low-cost and large scale
production possibilities. Photovoltaic fibres, cost effective and scalable
way of solar energy harvesting, work with the principle of solar cell,
which produces electricity by converting photons of the sun. Although
solar cells made from silicon and other inorganic materials are far
more efficient for powering devices than organic solar cells, they are
still too expensive to be used in widespread and long term
applications. In studies of fibre- based solar cells, which are
incorporated in textiles, organic semiconductors that are naturally
flexible and light-weight, are ideal candidates compared to
conventional inorganic semiconductors.
3. CONSTITUENTS AND PREPARATION of ORGANIC SOLAR CELL
FIBRE:
The solar cells, which directly convert sunlight into electrical energy,
are very interesting structures for energy generation. In particular,
polymer-based organic solar cell materials have the advantages of low
price and ease of operation in comparison with silicon-based solar
cells. Organic semiconductors, such as conductive polymers, dyes,

pigments, and liquid crystals, can be manufactured cheaply and used

in organic solar cell constructions easily. In the manufacturing process
of organic solar cells, thin films are prepared utilizing specific
techniques, such as vacuum evaporation, solution processing, printing,
or Nano fibre formation and electrospinning at room temperatures.
Dipping, spin coating, doctor blading, and printing techniques are
mostly utilized for manufacturing organic solar cells based on
conjugated polymers.

Figure 1 Schematic drawing of a conventional polymer based organic solar cell on ITO-coated
glass-based substrate.

A conventional organic solar cell consists of a transparent conductive

bottom electrode, e.g., indium tin oxide (ITO) (approximately120 nm),
a poly (3,4ethylenedioxythiophene: poly(styrene sulfonic acid)
(PEDOT:PSS) layer facilitating the hole injection and surface
smoothness, an organic photoactive layer to absorb the light, and a
metal electrode (approximately 100 nm) to collect charges on the top
of the device. In addition, it has to be mentioned that all of these
conventional solar cell materials are mainly developed on rigid
substrates, such as glass, which are heavy, fragile, and inflexible, and
which also have problems of storage and transport.
PREPARATION:
Photovoltaic fibers are prepared using the PEDOT:PSS layer, the
photoactive layer, and a metal-base electrode. Firstly, a substrate is
prepared using a flexible polypropylene (PP) monofilament with a
diameter of 0.59 mm to form the photovoltaic fiber. The nontransparent material and nonconductive monofilament is cut in order
to obtain certain length pieces (5 cm long). Then, the fibres are gently
cleaned of industrial and environmental contaminants using methanol,
iso-propanol, and distilled water, respectively, and dried in nitrogen
flow.

Figure 2 Schematic drawing of a photovoltaic fiber.

In the next step, the solution of PEDOT:PSS, which is a doped

conjugated polymer with high hole conductivity, is prepared as the
anode. A PEDOT:PSS mixture is prepared by adding approximately 5%
dimethyl sulfoxide and approximately 0.1% Triton X-100 to improve
conductivity and adhesion to the surface of the PP fiber, respectively,
and stirred for 24 hours. Then, the fibres are dip coated with PEDOT:
PSS mixture one by one and dried at 50C for 3 hours; the samples are
stored under the in a nitrogen environment for about 24 hours.
Conventional organic solar cells prepared on ITO-coated glass
substrates are generally heated after being coated with a PEDOT: PSS
layer. They are processed at lower temperatures. For thermal
treatment, a temperature of 50C and a longer period of time (3
hours) are enough for complete drying of the PEDOT:PSS solution.
In the third step, two types of photoactive materials are prepared and
coated with a similar way to the nano-coating of PEDOT: PSS. To
achieve this, a blend of P3HT, as the conjugated polymer, and phenyl
C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) (Nano-C) materials are prepared
by dissolving P3HT and PCBM with the ratio of 1:0.8 in chlorobenzene.
In the meantime, a blend of poly [2-methoxy-5-(3,7-dimethyloctyloxy)1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MDMO-PPV) (Merck) and PCBM are dissolved
with a ratio of 1:4 in chlorobenzene. PEDOT:PSS-coated fibres are
coated with the solutions of light-absorbing materials by dipping the
fibres one by one in the solution. Then, the samples are stored at 50C
for 15 minutes under vacuum. The conductive top metal electrode is
the last layer of the photovoltaic fiber structure. Rectangular masks (of
2 8 mm) are used during the deposition of metal layers on to the
fibre-based solar cells. The fibres are placed in the middle of the holes
of the mask and the rest of the holes are covered according to fiber
diameter. After the samples are inserted into the evaporation cabin in
a glove box, transparent metal layers consisting of 0.7 nm LiF and 10
nm Al are deposited on top of the fibres, using the thermal

evaporation technique, in a vacuum that has about 5 10 -6 mbar

Pressure. The thickness of the metallic layer is controlled and
measured by quartz crystal in the cabin of the evaporation machine.
The evaporation rate is changed between 0.010.2 nm per second.
After deposition of the metal layers, before the photoelectrical
measurements are carried out in the glove box, small drops of silver
paint are placed onto the electrodes of the photovoltaic fibres in order
to develop contacts for better charge conduction.
4. APPLICATION AND ASPECTS:
Solar cell fibre is still an experimental product and large scale
production at industrial level is still not done. But once this product is
developed at a large and will be available in market it will be a huge
development.
It could be applied in many ways like the major limitations of portable
electronics such as smart phones and iPads have a short battery life.
Solar-boosted batteries could help solve this problem. Besides that it
can allow portable use of solar power for military applications.
Soldiers need electricity for portable devices in remote areas, to
power mobile and stationary electronic devices to communicate cool
and heat, etc. It will be very helpful for the camps and the trek loving
people.
Fabrics with embedded solar cells or solar cell fibres can be used for
tents. Thus during day the solar energy will get converted into
electric energy. This electricity can be utilized at night. This energy
can be used for lighting bulbs, small fans etc.
The aspect for this source and this thinking is endless. Since it is a
renewable, non-extinct able and eco-friendly source of energy it can
be used until man lives on this planet. The fabric production is not on
a large scale and not known to many. The applications for this thing
will increase once it starts getting known.
5. ONGOING DEVELOPMENTS
The developed solar cell fibre is good enough but still it lags some
necessary properties specifically comfort properties (wearability)
and also it needs functional improvements. So the scientists are
trying to fulfil the voids restricting the phenomenon being brought
into practical application and can prove itself to be helpful for the
mankind some of the thought improvements are as follows:
5.1. Silicon p-i-n fibre
Silicon p-i-n fibre fabricated by HPCVD (high pressure chemical
vapour deposition) i.e. fabrication of a semiconductor via drawing.
The effort to date on fibre solar cells has largely focused on organic
and polymer materials, but the high natural abundance of SILICON
and the excellent reliability of Silicon devices, their ease of

fabrication and their potentially high performance make Silicon fibre

solar cell attractive. We can exploit meters long p-i-n junctions it will
be necessary to develop long, parallel in-fibre wire electrodes
configured to reduce the series resistance doing as such will also
permit high speed electronic function extended meters long and will
help in enhancing the solar cell fibres.
5.2. Dye synthesized solar cell fibres
This fiber consists of dye sensitized solar cell (DSC) structure
deposited on cladding less optical fiber. Both silica and plastic
optical fibres are used as a Substrate. Such a fiber converts light
modes propagating in the modified cladding into electrical signal.
DSC structure consisting of ZnO:Al transparent current collector
layer, TiO2 photo electrode sensitized with ruthenium dye,
gelatinized iodine electrolyte, and carbon-based counter electrode is
deposited layer by layer on top of the optical fiber.
Low-cost materials, wide range of applications and simple
manufacturing process make nanostructured dye-sensitized solar
cells (DSC) a potential alternative to the traditional silicon and thin
film PV devices. Unlike crystalline semiconductor solar cells, DSC is
an electrochemical device, consisting of two electrodes
interconnected by a layer of redox electrolyte. Electricity is
generated at the photo electrode, which is a porous, high surface
area network of TiO2 nanoparticles, coated with a mono layer of
light-absorbing dye and permeated with the electrolyte.
5.3. Photovoltaic textile structure using polyaniline/carbon
nanotube composite materials
Flexible electrodes for photovoltaic textile structures consisting of a
blend of water dispersible carbon nanotube: polyaniline (CNT:PANI)
components
with
poly(3,4
ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)
(PEDOT:PSS)
is
applied to be used as the hole collecting electrode in photovoltaic
textile applications. Researchers have investigated on different
materials including carbon nanotubes (CNTs), polymers and metals
as bottom electrode of organic solar cells to replace indium tin oxide
(ITO) layer due to its most important disadvantages of high cost, low
flexibility, and difficult processing. CNTs are nanometer-scale
objects, and of great interest for the development of novel materials
and functional devices. CNTs have unique mechanical, thermal,
electrical, electronic, and optical properties, which make them being
widely studied as fillers in polymeric composites to improve
electrical, mechanical, and physical properties of materials.
6. CONCLUSION:

The global trend for renewable source of energy is increasing. From

above it is clear that it is not applied and used on a large extent and
the demand for this thing is going to be high in the near future
because of its applications and positive sides. The cost, wearability,
weight, resilience, flexibility and many other things are involved
which need to be given a thought about. But overall it is a good
research for mankind considering both industry and household .It is a
thrust for humans in 21 st century. Many things have been developed
and are developing in this century. Solar cell fibres are one such thing
which is developing and will get developed in the near future and will
definitely help mankind.
7. BIBILOGRAPHY
1. Solar Cells - New Aspects and Solutions
Edited by Prof. Leonid A. Kosyachenko, chapter 9
2. Gnes, S., Beugebauer, H., and Sariciftci, N. S., Conjugated
Polymer-based Organic Solar Cells, Chem. Rev., 107, 13241338
(2007).
3. Brabec, C. J., Dyakonov, V., Parisi, J., and Sariciftci, N. S.,
Organic Photovoltaics Concepts and Realization, 1st edn,
Springer, New York, 2003.
4. Berson, S., de Bettignies, R., Bailly, S., and Guillerez S.,
Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Fibers for Photovoltaic Applications,
Adv. Funct. Mater., 17, 13771384 (2007).
5. Gonzalez, R., and Pinto, N. J., Electrospun poly(3-hexylthiophene2,5-diyl) Fiber Field Effect Transistor, Synthetic Metals,
151, 275278 (2005).
6. Mattila, H. (eds), Intelligent Textiles and Clothing, 1st edn,
Woodhead Publishing Limited, England, 2006.
7. Schubert, M. B., and Werner, J. H., Flexible Solar Cells for
Clothing, Materials Today, 9, 4250 (2006).