TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Researches at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) have successfully created solar cells with chemicals found in the shells of shrimps and other crustaceans.

The materials chitin and chitosan found in the shells are claimed to be cheaper than metals such as ruthenium, which is similar to platinum, that are currently used in making nanostructured solar cells.

The researchers are looking for a way to develop solar cells that can be placed in charges for tablets, phones, smartwatches and semi-transparent films over window.

They used a process called hydrothermal carbonization to create the carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from the shells of shrimps and crustaceans and then coated standard zinc oxide nanorods with the CQDs to make the solar cells.

“This could be a great new way to make these versatile, quick and easy to produce solar cells from readily available, sustainable materials. Once we’ve improved their efficiency they could be used anywhere that solar cells are used now, particularly to charge the kinds of devices people carry with them every day,” said Dr Joe Brisco, one of the researchers, as quoted from Sciencedaily.

Professor Magdalena Titirici, Professor of Sustainable Materials Technology at QMUL, said: “New techniques mean that we can produce exciting new materials from organic by-products that are already easily available. Sustainable materials can be both high-tech and low-cost.”

SCIENCEDAILY | AMRI MAHBUB