Wake Forest University Receives EPO Patent for Novel Solar Cell Technology

Apr 11, 2011

University’s solar technology could double energy and at a lower cost compared to today’s flat cell technology

The fiber-based PV cell technology was developed by a research group led by David Carroll, PhD, Director of Wake Forest’s Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials. The novel solar cells are comprised of millions of nano size plastic fibers that can collect sunlight energy at oblique angles and at all times sunlight is available--even during sunrise and sunset. The use of plastic fibers allows for light to be captured in the nano-fibers and be almost fully absorbed, potentially producing about 2x as many kilowatt hours per day versus standard solar cells. The technology has been licensed to FiberCell in North Carolina, and the company is currently producing the first batch of large prototype cells.

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