The first commercial product to feature ruthenium-based dye-sensitised solar cells is set to hit store shelves, Technology Review reported yesterday (21st October).

A backpack coated with the thin-film cells - which are manufactured by Cardiff-based firm G24 Innovations - was unveiled last week at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair.

The technology incorporated into the cells was first devised by Michael Gratzel, Chemistry Professor at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne in Switzerland.

"It's definitely a great moment for us. There has been talk of when the first commercial product will be coming out and this has happened now," he told the news provider.

G24 creates the cells - which can produce 0.5 watts of power under sunlight - by using ruthenium dyes coated on titanium dioxide nanocrystals and an electrolyte containing iodine.

The company believes the dye-sensitive technology is superior to its amorphous silicon counterparts as its cells perform well at different angles and have a longer lifespan.

In addition, the cells are capable of achieving over 12 per cent efficiency in converting light to electricity, thus providing the potential for charging devices while on the go.

Hong Kong-based firm Mascotte Industrial Associates is making the new bags and has received its first batch of cells from its UK partner.

Source:

Dye-Sensitized Solar to Go (21/10/09)

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