Advanced Textile Technology ›› 2024, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (11): 134-146.

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Research progress of textile-based flexible solar cells

  

  1. College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215021, China
  • Online:2024-11-10 Published:2024-11-12

柔性织物基太阳能电池的研究进展

  

  1. 苏州大学纺织与服装工程学院,江苏苏州 215021

Abstract: Excessive reliance on traditional fossil resources not only leads to environmental pollution and high energy consumption but also poses significant threats to human survival and development. Accelerating the advancement and utilization of renewable energy is imperative to achieve green and sustainable development. Photovoltaic cells have emerged as a prime candidate for environmentally-friendly energy generation, playing a pivotal role in the field of green energy generation. In recent years, with the rapid development of flexible electronics, wearable devices, and the Internet of Things (IoT), portable textile-based solar cell devices have made significant progress. Due to the lightweight, flexible, foldable, portable, and twistable characteristics of textiles, textile-based solar cell devices have attracted more attention and are considered a promising energy solution for the IoT. Flexible and wearable photovoltaic devices can seamlessly adapt to various platforms and power other wearable electronic and mobile devices by harnessing energy from sunlight. 
Textile-based solar cells primarily encompass dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), perovskite solar cells (PSCs), and organic solar cells (OSCs). By integrating textiles with solar cell technology, textile-based solar cells can not only serve as power sources for wearable and portable electronic devices to create self-sustaining systems, but also retain the comfort and superior flexibility inherent to textiles. Crucially, textile-based solar cells can undergo mass production through continuous roll-to-roll technology, significantly more efficient than the batch production process required for rigid cells. Rigid solar cell production tends to have slower manufacturing speeds, more complex equipment requirements, and higher costs. Furthermore, due to their heavier weight and increased thickness, rigid solar cells incur higher storage and transportation costs. In recent years, textile-based solar cells have made progress but still face significant challenges. These include limited cell bending radius, low electrical conductivity, high surface roughness, low light transmittance, low power conversion efficiency (PCE), poor stability, etc., which are the key factors restricting the further development of textile-based solar cells. 
Although the research on textile-based solar cells has received extensive attention, to date, a comprehensive review summarizing their preparation and performance is rare. With the rapid development of smart textiles, and new photovoltaic materials, discussing the future development directions of textile-based solar cells has become  vitally important. Herein, we present an up-to-date review of recent representative advancements in textile-based solar cells, including DSSCs, PSCs, and OSCs. Furthermore, we delve into the structural design and working mechanisms of textile-based solar cells. Additionally, we highlight the research on fabrication methods and performance enhancement of these cells. Finally, we summarize the challenges and opportunities faced in the development of textile-based solar cells. 

Key words: textile-based solar cells, flexible electronics, dye-sensitized solar cells, perovskite solar cells, organic solar cells

摘要: 近年来,柔性电子技术、可穿戴器件和物联网的发展极大地推动了便携式能源器件的发展。作为便携式能源器件的供电器件,织物基太阳能电池凭借其重量轻、可弯曲、可折叠、可扭曲等特性,成为了太阳能电池技术的研究热点之一。为了全面了解织物基太阳能电池的最新进展,文章介绍了织物基染料敏化、织物基钙钛矿和织物基有机3种不同类型的织物基太阳能电池,分析了它们的结构、制备方法和性能,并总结了织物基太阳能电池技术发展的局限性和目前所面临的挑战,为织物基太阳能电池的进一步研究和发展提供参考和借鉴。

关键词: 织物基太阳能电池, 柔性电子器件, 染料敏化太阳能电池, 钙钛矿太阳能电池, 有机太阳能电池

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