Solar Cell Materials from Sulfur and Common Metals

Sustainable energy production is a major challenge facing our society. Solar energy is renewable and is a viable and attractive option. However, there are obstacles to widespread use. Current technology is expensive, making it difficult for businesses and homeowners to implement, and solar cells are commonly made using toxic and rare elements or using processes that require large amounts of energy. To become commonplace, solar cells must be inexpensive and robust, and they must be made of abundant, cheap, nontoxic materials. Researchers at the University of Minnesota are using this appropriation to develop and test an innovative, more energy and time-efficient method for producing thin film solar cells made of sulfur and common metals instead of the more toxic and rare elements currently used in most cases.