The researchers however said that the laboratory proof-of-concept will take years to develop into a commercial product.
Researchers said that the proof-of-concept has been developed as a new approach to develop cells with potential to help power the next generation of portable electronic devices
MIT innovation associate dean for Bulovic and the emerging technology professor Fariborz Maseeh said that the new approach involves making the solar cell, the substrate that supports it, and a protective overcoating, all in single step process.
The substrate reduces exposure to dust or other contaminants that could degrade the cell’s performance and eliminates the need of cleaning or be removed from the vacuum during fabrication.
Bulovic added: "The innovative step is the realization that you can grow the substrate at the same time as you grow the device."
During the initial proof-of-concept experiment, researchers used a common flexible polymer, known as parylene as both the substrate and the overcoating, as well as an organic material, called DBP as the primary light-absorbing layer.
The team used established vapor deposition techniques to "grow" both substrate and the solar cell is vacuum chamber at room temperature unlike conventional solar-cell manufacturing which require high temperatures.
In order to demonstrate the slimness and lightweight feature of the cells, the researchers placed a working cell on top of a soap bubble without popping the bubble.
Bulovic asid: "These cells could simply be an add-on to existing structures."
Researchers, however, said that the cell could be too thin to be practical but parylene films of 80 microns thicknesses can be deposited using commercial equipment while retaining the other benefits of in-line substrate formation.
The final flexible solar cells are just one-fiftieth of the thickness of a human hair and can generate electricity as efficiently as their glass-based counterparts.
Image: MIT team draped a working thinnest and lightweight cell on top of a soap bubble, without popping the bubble. Photo: courtesy of Joel Jean and Anna Osherov/ Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
