EPFL scientists have developed a solar-panel material that can cut down on photovoltaic costs while achieving competitive power-conversion efficiency of 20.2%.
Some of the most promising solar cells today use light-harvesting films made from perovskites – a group of materials that share a characteristic molecular structure. However, perovskite-based solar cells use expensive “hole-transporting” materials, whose function is to move the positive charges that are generated when light hits the perovskite film. Publishing in Nature Energy, EPFL scientists have now engineered a considerably cheaper hole-transporting material that costs only a fifth of existing ones while keeping the efficiency of the solar cell above 20%.
As the quality of perovskite films increases, researchers are seeking other ways of improving the overall performance of solar cells. Inadvertently, this search targets the other key element of a solar panel, the hole-transporting layer, and specifically, the materials that make them up. There are currently only two hole-transporting materials available for perovskite-based solar cells. Both types are quite costly to synthesize, adding to the overall expense of the solar cell.
To address this problem, a team of researchers led by Mohammad Nazeeruddin at EPFL developed a molecularly engineered hole-transporting material, called FDT, that can bring costs down while keeping efficiency up to competitive levels. Tests showed that the efficiency of FDT rose to 20.2% – higher than the other two, more expensive alternatives. And because FDT can be easily modified, it acts as a blueprint for an entire generation of new low-cost hole-transporting materials.
“The best performing perovskite solar cells use hole transporting materials, which are difficult to make and purify and are prohibitively expensive, costing over €300 per gram, preventing market penetration,” says Nazeeruddin. “By comparison, FDT is easy to synthesize and purify, and its cost is estimated to be a fifth of that for existing materials – while matching, and even surpassing their performance.”
Read more: Cheaper solar cells with 20.2% efficiency
The Latest on: Solar cells
[google_news title=”” keyword=”solar cells” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Solar cells
- Luminous Power Technologies inaugurates solar panel manufacturing factory in Uttarakhandon March 28, 2024 at 3:46 am
Energy solutions provider Luminous Power Technologies on Thursday announced the inauguration of its solar panel manufacturing factory at Rudrapur in Uttarakhand. Equipped with the latest advancements ...
- Longer lifetime – Understanding degradation in perovskite solar cellson March 28, 2024 at 3:46 am
Researchers from the University of Potsdam have shown together with colleagues from other universities that ion-induced field screening is a dominant factor in the operational stability of perovskite ...
- Solar eclipse 2024: Texas power grid could be impactedon March 28, 2024 at 3:30 am
The upcoming solar eclipse could impact the Texas power grid. With the sun essentially blocked out, solar generation will no doubt take a major hit, at least for a little while.
- Yellen warns China’s surplus of solar panels, EVs could be dumped on global marketson March 27, 2024 at 9:32 pm
After years of clean energy investment, China has an excess of solar power, EVs and lithium-ion batteries, allowing it to export those products at cheaper prices to markets around the world.
- News live: Albanese announces $1bn package for Australian-made solar panels; Victoria to introduce tobacco licensing schemeon March 27, 2024 at 9:09 pm
Splendour in the Grass music festival cancelled for 2024 due to ‘unexpected events’ Music Australia will publish a research report on Australia’s music festival sector on 9 April, which it says is ...
- Different Types Of Consumer Solar Panels (And Which Is Right For You)on March 27, 2024 at 3:30 pm
Adding solar panels to your home can be a great way to save money in the long term while simultaneously reducing your carbon footprint.
- How To Protect Your Solar Panels From Getting Destroyed By Hailon March 27, 2024 at 3:18 pm
After thousands of solar panels were destroyed by hail in Texas, many homeowners and businesses are wondering how to protect theirs. Here are a few tips.
- Australia to create $653 mln fund to expand solar panel manufacturingon March 27, 2024 at 3:16 pm
Australia will set up an A$1 billion ($653 million) fund to help expand solar panel manufacturing at home, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday, as it looks to ramp up its transition to ...
- A solar cell you can bend and soak in wateron March 27, 2024 at 6:47 am
Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and collaborators have developed an organic photovoltaic film that is both waterproof and flexible, allowing a solar cell to be put onto ...
- Heliene silicon solar panels are first to reach domestic content bonuson March 27, 2024 at 5:23 am
Minnesota-based solar panel manufacturer Heliene announced today it will purchase silicon solar cells from Suniva under a three-year contract. Suniva is ...
via Bing News