Energy-generating concrete
DysCrete is a dye-sensitized energy-generating concrete made by coating prefabricated concrete components with layers of organic dyes held in suspension. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DYSCs) rely on a photoelectrochemical process to convert light into energy. Made of light-reactive natural dyes from substances like spinach chlorophyll, the cells generate power that is harnessed by oxide electrodes. This technology has the advantages of low cost and flexible applicability, but its long-term stability is a challenge to optimize.
In DysCrete, the DYSC cell is applied via a hybrid process of sintering and spray deposition in multiple stages. This layered approach results in a more reliable system than the conventional DYSC encapsulation process, in which any imperfection will render a cell useless. The system may be tuned to specific wavelengths of light by manipulating the dye and electrolyte components, and can generate electricity from indirect as well as direct light sources.
Contact: BlingCrete, Berlin, Germany.
For more information, see Transmaterial Next: A Catalog of Materials that Redefine Our Future
