文档介绍：ENGINEERING ETHICS: ORGANIC PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
Garrett Ott (******@)
The Problem
As non-renewable energy production faces pollution and dwindling resources, engineers are challenged with finding an alternative means of producing energy. The National Academy of Engineering suggests solar energy to fulfill this need [1]. While solar energy may be looked down upon, considered expensive and inefficient, it has the potential to power the entire world’s need for energy in the future. Covering only % of the earth with 10% efficiency solar panels would fulfill our energy needs according to Michael Grätzel’s article on Solar Energy Conversion [2]. However, today’s solar panels cost more to produce than their energy yield in the long run and engineers are challenged e up with a solution [3]. Researcher Severin Borenstein claims that until we can develop cheaper, more efficient solar power, we are wasting money to install the current solar technology into homes and businesses [3].
While many new technologies are researched to fulfill this need for a more economical solution, I anic photovoltaic cells are our most promising resource. Organic PV cells could be printed off like newspapers in a mass production process called roll to roll processing, significantly reducing production costs of traditional PV cells [4]. They are also thin, flexible, lightweight, and can be cut in h