The type of solar cell made from perovskite materials by a research team at the University of Oxford can be printed onto backpacks, the backs of mobile phones, or car roofs to generate electricity.
Scientists from the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford have developed a super-thin light-absorbing material that is flexible enough to be placed on any building or object, with the potential to produce nearly double the energy of current solar panels, CNN reported on August 9. This new technology emerges at a critical time for the booming development of solar energy as climate change driven by human activity rapidly warms the planet, forcing the world to accelerate its transition to clean energy.
The research team experiments with super-thin solar cell materials in the lab. (Photo: Martin Small)
The solar coating made from perovskite materials absorbs sunlight more efficiently than the widely used silicon solar panels. This is because its light-absorbing layers can capture a broader spectrum of sunlight compared to traditional panels, thereby generating more energy.
The Oxford research team is not the only one producing this coating, but their product is highly efficient, capable of collecting about 27% of sunlight energy. Current silicon panels typically convert 22% of sunlight into electricity. Researchers believe that over time, perovskite could achieve a performance level exceeding 45%, based on the performance increases they have achieved over five years of experiments, from 6% to 27%.
“This is significant as it promises to generate more solar electricity without the need for silicon panels or specialized solar farms,” said Junke Wang, one of the scientists at Oxford. “We plan to use the perovskite coating on a wider variety of surfaces to produce affordable solar electricity, such as car roofs and buildings, even the backs of mobile phones.”
Only slightly thicker than one micron, the new coating is 150 times thinner than the silicon semiconductor used in current solar panels. Unlike silicon panels, perovskite can be applied to nearly any surface, including plastics and paper, using tools like inkjet printers.
Globally, the rate of solar panel installations increased by 80% in 2023 compared to 2022, according to Wood Mackenzie, a company specializing in data and analysis of the clean energy transition. Solar energy is the fastest-growing power source in 2023, marking 18 consecutive years of growth.
A primary reason for this surge is the declining cost of solar energy, which has become cheaper than producing any other form of energy, including fossil fuels. Another factor contributing to the growth of this energy type is the increasing efficiency in converting solar energy. However, solar farms require significant land, leading to conflicts between the agriculture sector and renewable energy companies. The research team at Oxford states that their technology offers a solution to this issue while also reducing energy costs.
However, the challenge with perovskite lies in its stability, which hinders developers from commercializing the technology. Some lab coatings dissolve or degrade over a short period, making them less durable than current solar panels. Scientists are working to improve its longevity.
