Photovoltaic fibers

• US 7,894,694 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konarka Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Eckert, Robert D., Li, Lian, Wormser, Paul, Montello, Edmund, Chittibabu, Kethinni G., Gaudiana, Russell, Montello, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Rahll; Jerry T
• Application Number:
  US12/050,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20080217587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 385/101, 438/82, 438/90, 136/254, 136/263
• US Class Current: 385/101
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/441 Yarns or threads with antistatic, conductive or radiation-shielding properties electroconductive, anti-static or radiation-shielding filaments D01F1/09, D01F1/106; anti-static fabrics D03D15/533; conducting, insulating or anti-static layers for floor coverings D06N7/0042
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2031 comprising titanium oxide, e.g. TiO2 H01G9/2036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2059 comprising an organic dye as the active light absorbing material, e.g. adsorbed on an electrode or dissolved in solution
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2068 Panels or arrays of photoelectrochemical cells, e.g. photovoltaic modules based on photoelectrochemical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2086 Photoelectrochemical cells in the form of a fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2095 comprising a flexible sustrate
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/344 comprising ruthenium
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/636 comprising heteroaromatic hydrocarbons as substituents on the nitrogen atom
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/542 Dye sensitized solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/29 Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2922 Nonlinear [e.g., crimped, coiled, etc.]

Abstract

Photovoltaic materials and methods of photovoltaic cell fabrication provide a photovoltaic cell in the form of a fiber. These fibers may be formed into a flexible fabric or textile.

Claims

1. A structure, comprising:

a conductive core including a first electrode;

an organic layer surrounding the core and electrically connected to the first electrode;

a transparent second electrode surrounding and electrically connected to the organic layer; and

at least one wire between the organic layer and the transparent second electrode,

wherein the first electrode, the organic layer, and the second electrode comprise a photosensitive device, and the organic layer comprises a photoactive region.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the core includes a non-conductive support element and a conductive first electrode surrounding the non-conductive support element.

3. The structure of claim 2, wherein the support element comprises a nylon fiber.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein the conductive core comprises a metal wire.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein the first electrode comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silver, gold and copper.

6. The structure of claim 1, further comprising an outer layer surrounding the second electrode.

7. The structure of claim 1, wherein the conductive core comprises multi-stranded fibers.

8. The structure of claim 1, wherein the conductive core is hollow.

9. The structure of claim 1, wherein the transparent second electrode comprises a material selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, a fluorine-doped tin oxide, a tin oxide, and a zinc oxide.

10. The structure of claim 1, wherein the conductive core is transparent.

11. The structure of claim 1, wherein the conductive core is significantly light transmitting.

12. The structure of claim 1, wherein the at least one wire comprises a plurality of wires.

13. A fabric, comprising

a plurality of fibers woven into the fabric, each fiber comprising:

a conductive core including a first electrode;

an organic layer surrounding the core and electrically connected to the first electrode;

a transparent second electrode surrounding and electrically connected to the organic layer; and

at least one wire between the organic layer and the transparent second electrode,

wherein for each fiber, the first electrode, the organic layer, and the second electrode comprise a photosensitive device, and the organic layer comprises a photoactive region of the respective fiber.

14. An article, comprising:

an electrically conductive core;

a layer surrounding the core, the layer comprising an organic material;

a counterelectrode surrounding the layer; and

at least one wire between the counterelectrode and the layer surrounding the core,

wherein the electrically conductive core, the layer and the counterelectrode comprise a photoactive device, and the organic material comprises a photoconversion material.

15. The article of claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive core comprises a substantially electrically insulative fiber core and an electrical conductor disposed on the substantially electrically insulative fiber core.

16. The article of claim 15, the electrically conductive fiber core comprises nylon.

17. The article of claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive core comprises a metal wire.

18. The article of claim 17, wherein the electrically conductive fiber comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silver, gold and copper.

19. The article of claim 14, further comprising a protective layer disposed on the counterelectrode.

20. A fabric, comprising

a plurality of fibers woven into the fabric, each fiber comprising:

an electrically conductive core including a first electrode;

a layer comprising an organic material surrounding the electrically conductive core and electrically connected to the first electrode;

a transparent counterelectrode surrounding and electrically connected to the organic material; and

at least one wire between layer comprising the organic material and the transparent counterelectrode,

wherein for each fiber, the first electrode, the organic material, and the counterelectrode comprise a photovoltaic cell, and the organic material comprises a photoconversion region of the respective fiber.