Canadian scientists develop plastic IR solar cell

Cheaper solar power on the horizon

The first plastic solar cell active in the infrared spectrum has been developed by a team of Canadian scientists at the University of Toronto.

Ted Sargent and his colleagues suspended lead sulfide semi-conducting nanocrystals in a semi-conducting plastic. The solar cells thus created can be tuned to absorb IR. Sargent said that the device could be introduced commercially within three to five years.