IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v6y2015i1d10.1038_ncomms9092.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Dynamic kirigami structures for integrated solar tracking

Author

Listed:
  • Aaron Lamoureux

    (University of Michigan)

  • Kyusang Lee

    (University of Michigan)

  • Matthew Shlian

    (School of Art and Design, University of Michigan)

  • Stephen R. Forrest

    (University of Michigan
    University of Michigan)

  • Max Shtein

    (University of Michigan
    School of Art and Design, University of Michigan)

Abstract

Optical tracking is often combined with conventional flat panel solar cells to maximize electrical power generation over the course of a day. However, conventional trackers are complex and often require costly and cumbersome structural components to support system weight. Here we use kirigami (the art of paper cutting) to realize novel solar cells where tracking is integral to the structure at the substrate level. Specifically, an elegant cut pattern is made in thin-film gallium arsenide solar cells, which are then stretched to produce an array of tilted surface elements which can be controlled to within ±1°. We analyze the combined optical and mechanical properties of the tracking system, and demonstrate a mechanically robust system with optical tracking efficiencies matching conventional trackers. This design suggests a pathway towards enabling new applications for solar tracking, as well as inspiring a broader range of optoelectronic and mechanical devices.

Suggested Citation

  • Aaron Lamoureux & Kyusang Lee & Matthew Shlian & Stephen R. Forrest & Max Shtein, 2015. "Dynamic kirigami structures for integrated solar tracking," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-6, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms9092
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9092
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms9092
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/ncomms9092?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Momeni, Farhang & Ni, Jun, 2018. "Nature-inspired smart solar concentrators by 4D printing," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 35-44.
    2. Amin Jamalimehr & Morad Mirzajanzadeh & Abdolhamid Akbarzadeh & Damiano Pasini, 2022. "Rigidly flat-foldable class of lockable origami-inspired metamaterials with topological stiff states," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Hammad, Bashar & Al-Sardeah, Ali & Al-Abed, Mohammad & Nijmeh, Salem & Al-Ghandoor, Ahmed, 2017. "Performance and economic comparison of fixed and tracking photovoltaic systems in Jordan," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 827-839.
    4. Yuchen Qiu & Bo Zhang & Junchuan Yang & Hanfei Gao & Shuang Li & Le Wang & Penghua Wu & Yewang Su & Yan Zhao & Jiangang Feng & Lei Jiang & Yuchen Wu, 2021. "Wafer-scale integration of stretchable semiconducting polymer microstructures via capillary gradient," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Zhu, Yongqiang & Liu, Jiahao & Yang, Xiaohua, 2020. "Design and performance analysis of a solar tracking system with a novel single-axis tracking structure to maximize energy collection," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms9092. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.