Scientists improved perovskite solar cells, increasing their service life by 10 times compared to their previous counterparts.
This achievement brings developers closer to a future revolution in solar energy production technologies. Perovskite cells are considered the most serious alternative to traditional silicon technology. Their flexible structure allows them to be printed and place on cars and phones, allowing you to recharge on the go.
Currently, perovskites have a number of serious drawbacks. Among other things, they quickly degrade after contact with moist air and begin to release iodine.
However, a group of researchers managed to solve this problem. They added nanoparticles to the perovskites, creating an element that can work for up to 1,530 hours. This is almost 10 times longer than previous similar solar cell designs.
«By addressing these common challenges we see in perovskite solar technology, our research opens the door wide for cheaper, more efficient, and widely available solar energy. The, what we have achieved is a critical step towards developing high-performance solar cells that can withstand real-world conditions, bringing us closer to their commercial use on a global scale», — said research engineer at the Institute of Advanced Technology at the University of Surrey, co-author of the study Imalka Jayawardena.
Solar energy remains one of the most promising, environmentally friendly forms of energy production, which will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the future. However, the development of the technology is constrained by the use of silicon, which is expensive to produce.
At the same time Synthetic versions of natural calcium oxide and titanium crystals can be produced at a much lower cost. But if solar cells while pure silicon solar cells can operate for many decades, perovskite solar cells typically only last about 100 hours.
In the new research, the developers were looking for a way to capture iodine that leaks from sparkling elements in contact with air. They have embedded tiny nanoparticles into perovskite elements during the manufacturing process.
These elements were tested in extreme heat and humidity. The developers managed to establish that the modified elements retained performance for more than two months, compared to previous developments, which had a service life of up to 160 hours.
«Ten years ago, the idea of perovskite solar cells that could operate for such a long time in real-world conditions seemed unattainable With these improvements, we are breaking new ground in stability and performance, bringing perovskite technology closer to becoming a mainstream energy solution», — said the study’s lead author Hashini Perera
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The article was published in the journal EES Solar
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