Energizing Arkansas, a publication focusing on sustainable, cutting edge, and renewable energy alternatives, features in its latest edition work being done by UALR’s Nanotechnology Center that is opening new doors in the area of advanced solar cell technology.

The story says Dr. Alexandru Biris, chief scientist at the center, and a team of physicians, chemists, and engineers are developing and synthesizing organic solar panels based on polymers and carbon nanotubes, which they synthesize at the center. The UALR carbon nanotubes offer new potential to deploy solar cells with improved strength and flexibility.

“We have developed a unique process for synthesizing and characterizing high quality, well-proportioned carbon nanotubes, which is essential for our research,” Biris said.

Traditional solar cells use semiconductors to capture light. The semiconductor most commonly used in traditional photovoltaic arrays is silicon, which makes efficient solar cells. But for silicon to absorb enough light, relatively thick slabs of semiconductor-grade silicon are needed, which makes solar panels economically out of reach for the mass market. What is needed is an organic solar cell that would be cheaper and much more flexible.

“Imagine solar panels so flexible they can mold to a roof or something that is almost like a paint or thin film that can be applied to surfaces,” Biris said.

That is one of several applied uses of carbon nanotubes his team is working on. He estimates that development and commercialization of such products are just a few years away.

“This area of research is growing so rapidly that advances are being made every day,” he said.