Could iron pyrite, the mining waste product commonly known as fool’s gold, soon be used in the production of low-cost photovoltaic panels? It’s a distinct possibility according to researchers at UC Irvine.
While fool’s gold is perhaps best known for its use as a cheap novelty gift, the research team found several characteristics that make it potentially well-suited for photovoltaic devices. It has a strong light absorption, similar to that of crystalline silicon. It also is a good semiconductor, allowing it to conduct electricity under certain conditions. What this means is that the material may be able to be synthesized into a polycrystalline pyrite film that can serve as the active layer in solar panels.
In fact, the research team at UC Irvine did just that–using a hot-injection technique to turn pyrite nanocrystals into a thin film similar to the crystalline silicon film used in most solar panels today. While further tests are needed to investigate the efficiency of iron pyrite solar cells, the potential exists for the development of new, inexpensive solar panels within the next 3-5 years.
The big question for me is not so much whether the efficiency of these pyrite cells can equal that of silicon (as they likely won’t) but whether it can match it on a cost-per performance basis. The biggest barrier to the adoption of solar energy right now is the high cost of photovoltaic panels. Can solar cells made with pyrite produce energy at a rate of around $1-2/ watt? If so then perhaps consumers will be willing accept a slightly lower efficiency (ie. a larger solar panel surface area) for greater affordability. It’s certainly something to watch out for in the future.
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