what are the advantages and disadvantages of flexable photovoltaic solar cells?
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Flexible cells are printable much like solid state circuits which reduces their cost dramatically. Also, unlike delicate contemporary solar panels flexible cells are more durable and less vulnerable to weather. Typically solar panels should last 30-40 years but (concievably) flexible panels should last even longer.\n\nEfficiency of solar panels between current and flexible cells is comparable with rates of 10-15% which is still not enough to make them really economical yet (unfortunately).
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Advantage and disadvantage:\n\nPlants with high photosynthesis rates grows faster but has a shorter term of life.
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The Pros: \nLCDs are Compact, sleek and stylish.\nLess strain as there is no Radiation.\nU can fit a bigger Screen for the same space.\nless power requirements.\n\nThe COns:\nExpensive\nFragile\nSlower refresh rates make it less utility for High speed action games/motion/animation or fine test, Video/image editing. But they r getting better.\nThey need careful handling.
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less elements, so less complicated maths.  \n\nYou get a less accurate result, which I don't consider an advantage.
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(m)\n\nMake a solar cell in your kitchen\n\nWe found this article on http://www.scitoys.com/scitoys/scitoys/echem/echem2.html \n\nIt was super, super, super cool, so we thank them for allowing us to post it at TheSolarPlan.com!  This is nifty!\n\nA solar cell is a device for converting energy from the sun into electricity. The high-efficiency solar cells you can buy at Radio Shack and other stores are made from highly processed silicon, and require huge factories, high temperatures, vacuum equipment, and lots of money. \n\nIf we are willing to sacrifice efficiency for the ability to make our own solar cells in the kitchen out of materials from the neighborhood hardware store, we can demonstrate a working solar cell in about an hour. \n \nOur solar cell is made from cuprous oxide instead of silicon. Cuprous oxide is one of the first materials known to display the photoelectric effect, in which light causes electricity to flow in a material. \n\nThinking about how to explain the photoelectric effect is what led Albert Einstein to the Nobel prize for physics, and to the theory of relativity.\n\nMaterials you will need \n\nThe solar cell is made from these materials: \nA sheet of copper flashing from the hardware store. This normally costs about $5.00 per square foot. We will need about half a square foot. \nTwo alligator clip leads. \nA sensitive micro-ammeter that can read currents between 10 and 50 microamperes. Radio Shack sells small LCD multimeters that will do, but I used a small surplus meter with a needle. \nAn electric stove. My kitchen stove is gas, so I bought a small one-burner electric hotplate for about $25. The little 700 watt burners probably won't work -- mine is 1100 watts, so the burner gets red hot. \nA large clear plastic bottle off of which you can cut the top. I used a 2 liter spring water bottle. A large mouth glass jar will also work. \nTable salt. We will want a couple tablespoons of salt. \nTap water. \nSand paper or a wire brush on an electric drill. \nSheet metal shears for cutting the copper sheet. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow to build the solar cell \n\nMy burner looks like this: \n\nThe first step is to cut a piece of the copper sheeting that is about the size of the burner on the stove. Wash your hands so they don't have any grease or oil on them. Then wash the copper sheet with soap or cleanser to get any oil or grease off of it. Use the sandpaper or wire brush to thoroughly clean the copper sheeting, so that any sulphide or other light corrosion is removed. \n\nNext, place the cleaned and dried copper sheet on the burner and turn the burner to its highest setting. \n\nAs the copper starts to heat up, you will see beautiful oxidation patterns begin to form. Oranges, purples, and reds will cover the copper. \n\n\nAs the copper gets hotter, the colors are replaced with a black coating of cupric oxide. This is not the oxide we want, but it will flake off later, showing the reds, oranges, pinks, and purples of the cuprous oxide layer underneath. \n\n\n\nThe last bits of color disappear as the burner starts to glow red. \n\nWhen the burner is glowing red-hot, the sheet of copper will be coated with a black cupric oxide coat. Let it cook for a half an hour, so the black coating will be thick. This is important, since a thick coating will flake off nicely, while a thin coat will stay stuck to the copper. \n\n\nAfter the half hour of cooking, turn off the burner. Leave the hot copper on the burner to cool slowly. If you cool it too quickly, the black oxide will stay stuck to the copper. \n\nAs the copper cools, it shrinks. The black cupric oxide also shrinks. But they shrink at different rates, which makes the black cupric oxide flake off. \n\n\nThe little black flakes pop off the copper with enough force to make them fly a few inches. This means a little more cleaning effort around the stove, but it is fun to watch. \n\n\nWhen the copper has cooled to room temperature (this takes about 20 minutes), most of
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one solar cell is one of thousands on a sheet made like waffles then numerous layers ( at least three) are cooked togther - with initial "wiring" determines how big (how many cells) the "saleable" slices will be/contain\n\nI think they are made in a "clean" room too like many electronics (guys in white suits and masks to avoid contaminating the "product" which would lose any efficiency if "flawed"\n\nI can't remember the exact technical aspects and procedures\nSome old National Geographic had an articale all about this
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See in\nhttp://www.solarenergysociety.ca/\nhttp://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/su/neze/index.cfm
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Solar photovoltaic panels contain arrays of solar cells that convert light into electricity. Solar cells, or PV cells, rely on the photovoltaic effect, which describes how certain materials can convert sunlight into electricity to absorb the energy of the sun and cause current to flow between two oppositely charged layers. Individual solar cells provide a relatively small amount of power, but electrical output is significant when connected together as an array making up a panel.\n\nOn a bright day, the sun delivers about 1 kW/m² to the Earth's surface. Typical solar panels have an average efficiency of 12%, with the best commercially available panels at 20%, and recent prototype panels at around 30%. This would result in 200 W/m². However, not all days have bright sunlight, and therefore not enough solar energy can be captured.\n\nA solar water heater uses the sun's energy to heat a fluid, which is used to transfer the heat to a heat storage vessel. In the home, for example, sanitary hot water would be heated and stored in a hot water cylinder. Panels on the roof have an absorber plate to which fluid circulation tubes are attached. The absorber, usually coated with a dark selective coating, assures the conversion of the sun's radiation into heat, while fluid circulating through the tubes carries the heat away where it can be used or stored. The heated fluid is pumped to a heat exchanger, which is a coil in the storage vessel or an external heat exchanger where it gives off its heat and is then circulated back to the panel to be reheated. This provides an effective way of harnessing the sun's energy.
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Environmentalists are against it. (Go figure). They claim that enough solar panels to provide an adequate amount of power for any sized city would take up too much space and would damage the ecosystems they are put in.
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Hi,\n\nIf your in the UK their is a good electrical componant company that sell alsorts of stuff i believe they sell solar cells ranging from 2.0v - 6.5v but you can bank them to create larger voltages. www.maplin.co.uk\n\nIf your in the US www.mouser.com is good (as im UK i haven't used this though it is widely described as a good company for componants by the yanks.\n\nGood Luck!!\n\nWill
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"Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight directly into electricity. When sunlight strikes a PV cell, electrons are dislodged, creating an electrical current."
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Advantages being that when it works its wonderfull. The quality is really impressive and it works just like a phone. However, if you have a slow or unreliable connection it can cut you off a lot. Sometimes there are problems getting it to connect, and that can be rather frustrating.\n\nIn other words, when it works its great but sometimes it doesnt work
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Extremely difficult. Solar cells are semiconductor devices, just like computer chips, but less complex. Very expensive equipment and ultra-pure materials are required.
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Energy demand will keep on increasing. So there will be substitute sources of energy like solar cell and water. A lot of research is going on to make this alternate sources working and cheaper than the conventional ones like mineral fuels.
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Photovoltaic Cells require specialized semi conductors like specially treated silicon crystals.  The answer you are refering to mentioned potatos to make a battery not a photovoltaic cell.\n\nPotatos and lemons, and all fruits and vegetables for that matter, store solar energy from photosynthesis.  This however is not photovoltaic as electricity is not generated at all during photosynthesis.\n\nYou can however create batteries with copper, zinc, and a potato, lemon, or banana.  These foods contain weak electrolytes, one of the main ingredients in a battery.  Unfortunately a potato battery is very weak and much more expensive than batteries you can buy at the store.
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Solar energy is available in a large quantity, in fact much larger than all other safe energy sources put together. Energy obtained from coal, petroleum, other carbon based products and that obtained from nuclear fusion/fission is not safe for the enviornment.\nSo Solar energy has two major advantages -\n1. Abundant, hence making it cheap.\n2. Environmental friendly.
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renewable - Wind power - cheap, available, enviromentally friendly & does not run out. Disadvantage - has to be windy/exposed, initial cost of setting up, can be considered unsightly\nTidal - Cheap, enviromentally friendly, available around the world & does not run out. Disadvantage - cost of setting up, small return for initial investment, suitable locations\nSolar - available, enviromentally friendly, relatively cheap after installation. Disadvantages - Cost of setting up, sunny location needed, storing power\nNon Renewable - Nuclear - reliable, clean, economic. Disadvantage - enviromental hazard, safety, disposal of waste\nFossil fuel Coal & gas - widely available, relatively cheap, established technology. Disadvantage - limited source, carbon emmissions, price can fluctuate