Researchers have developed a flexible and cheap solar cell which lasts 10 times as long as other solar cells of the same type. This advance could revolutionize solar energy generation one day. Perovskite solar cells, also known as “holy grail” are a lighter alternative to silicon-based technology. They can be printed on phones and cars to charge them while they are in motion.
Does it sound too good to true? So far, you’re right. Perovskites have some serious flaws. They degrade rapidly due to chemical reaction with moisture in air, which causes them to leak iodine. A team of scientists has now found a way to solve this problem. They embedded nanoparticles into the perovskites to produce a cell with a lifespan of 1,530 hours. This is a nearly tenfold improvement over previous designs. Researchers published their findings in EES Solar on February 20. Imalka Jawardena, a co-author of the study and an engineer at University of Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute, U.K. said this in a press release. “What we’ve achieved here is a critical step toward developing high-performance solar cells that can withstand real-world conditions — bringing us closer to their commercial use at a global scale.”
Solar energy surge
The cheapest and fastest growing form of renewable power, solar power can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The technology is hindered by the fact that it relies on silicon. This is an expensive and finite resource. To overcome this problem, scientists are developing perovskite alternative crystals – synthetic forms of calcium titanium oxide that occur naturally and can be produced at fractions of the price. Solar cells made of perovskite, unlike silicon-based cells that can last decades, only have a lifespan of 100 hours or less. This severely limits their usefulness. Receive the most exciting discoveries from around the globe in your email. Related: An ultra-thin ‘coating of solar energy’ could turn EVs and phone cases into small power generators.
The scientists in the study were looking for a method to capture the iodine leaking from the perovskites. The solution they came up with was embedding nanoparticles made of aluminum oxide into the cells during their manufacture. The iodine was not able to leak out, and the structure became more electrically conductive.
The researchers tested these modified cells in extreme temperatures and humidity. They found they maintained their high performance over a period of more than 2 months (1.530 hours). This is a considerable improvement from the lifespans of perovskite cell without enhancement (160 hours). Researchers plan to investigate their new technology to determine if they can improve on these improvements. Hashini perera, the study’s lead author and a research scientist at the Advanced Technology Institute said this in a statement. “With these improvements, we’re breaking new ground in stability and performance, bringing perovskite technology closer to becoming a mainstream energy solution.”
