Coal solar cells involve a new and innovative way of utilizing coal, namely
using it as an energy carrier to convert solar energy to heat and electricity
instead of as an energy source (by consuming it) to generate heat and
electricity. The invention intends to (1) harvest and convert solar energy to
heat and electricity for solar cell devices and (2) bring the cost of solar cell
devices down. The invention greatly enhances the current solar energy
utilization by reducing the cost of solar cell devices and garnishes a clean
utilization of coal. Coal solar cells can be used widely as house shingles, part
of house walls, and enclosing walls of a property and meanwhile to produce heat
and electricity for the household.
Intellectual Property Status:
Patent pending.
Potential Commercial Uses:
Dye for solar cells
Benefits and Competitive Advantages:
Clean energy production from coal, an abundant resource
Production of cheaper dyes for solar cells
Brief Description:
The invention will allow fabrication of solar cell dye based on coal that
will be simpler to synthesize and utilize, and therefore less costly, than
existing dyes.
Keywords:
Lichang Wang, SIUC Technology Transfer, Southern
Illinois University, coal, solar cells, solar cell dye, solar energy, clean coal
technology, coal research, SIUC coal