Photovoltaic fibers
View Patent ↗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.
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.