Solar Sparks!
We are a team of Year 10 students taking part in the Big Bang Competition. Our goal is to build multiple prototypes of flexible, transparent solar cells to help make renewable energy more accessible. Our vision is to integrate these cells into everyday surfaces such as the windows of homes and buildings. As the cells are transparent, they would not affect visibility, yet they could still generate significant amounts of energy. Their flexibility also means they could be rolled up and transported easily to disaster-stricken areas, where access to emergency energy is often critical. As an initial step, we successfully built a test DSSC Grätzel solar cell to assess the feasibility of engineering solar cells in a school laboratory and to understand the basic layers required in photovoltaic devices.
We now aim to build four different prototypes: infrared-selective polymer photovoltaic cells, organic photovoltaic cells, perovskite cells, and quantum-dot layer cells. Using OghmaNano, an advanced solar-cell simulation software, we have already simulated all four designs. Through extensive research and data analysis, our results suggest that the perovskite cell performs best, offering a promising balance between efficiency and transparency. We therefore plan to construct a perovskite prototype alongside the other technologies to determine the optimal balance between transparency and energy generation in real-world conditions.
The main challenge we currently face is securing enough funding to purchase the materials and equipment required for a project of this scale. We have begun contacting potential sponsors and investors, but we are still awaiting responses. Any support or donation would be greatly appreciated, as additional materials and specialised equipment, such as a spin coater, are essential for building these prototypes. In the long term, we hope to win the Big Bang Competition and gain recognition for our work in renewable energy innovation.
We are also extremely grateful for the support of Dr Welby, who supervises our weekly Wednesday meetings, Dr Woodcock, who has helped source many of the materials we have used so far, and Mr Straw who is currently helping us in our search for sponsors!
Article written by Adrij (Year 10)
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