Amorton Indoor Solar Cells Achieve 20% Efficiency with Thinner Electrodes

Panasonic Europe has introduced its latest innovation in solar cell technology with the launch of the new Amorton series designed specifically for indoor use. These cutting-edge solar cells boast an impressive 20% efficiency rate and a smaller size compared to previous models.

Panasonic's hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells, known as Amorton, have a proven track record of powering a wide range of indoor and outdoor applications such as IoT devices, watches, sensor nodes, asset trackers, and remote controls. The Amorton cells are renowned for their ability to efficiently harvest energy even in low light and artificial light environments, making them ideal for various electronic devices.

The latest additions to the Amorton series, the AMG-1401C and AMG-1701C cells, feature a nearly perfect black-reflective surface and a remarkable efficiency increase of over 20%. This significant improvement is attributed to an optimized production process that has expanded the active area of the cells compared to previous generations, resulting in enhanced performance and energy generation capabilities.

Both the AMG-1401C and AMG-1701C cells, which are constructed on glass substrates, are impressively thin at just 1.1mm. They are capable of generating approximately 8uW/cm2 at 200lux per active area, making them highly efficient for indoor applications where light intensity may be limited.

Despite their advanced technology and high efficiency, the external dimensions of the AMG-1401C and AMG-1701C cells are only slightly larger than the active area. This compact design allows for optimal space utilization and material efficiency in the final application. For instance, the AMG-1401C, with external dimensions of 41.4mm x 26.1mm, can generate a maximum of 77.8uW at 200 lux with a cell voltage of 2.2V, making it compatible with various power management ICs available in the market.

"The new indoor Amorton solar cell series represents a significant leap forward in amorphous silicon solar cell technology," stated Robert Spiegler, Lead Product Manager Solution Business at Panasonic Industry. "Our expertise in research and development, coupled with advanced production processes, has enabled us to create solar cells that not only excel in performance but also in aesthetics. Additionally, we offer customization options for solar cells used in small electronic devices, including transparent surfaces for applications where displays are present."