Solar panels are an indispensable solution, both for self-consumption and for America’s energy sovereignty. However, dependence on certain materials complicates their expansion to massive power plants and increases the cost for consumers. In this sense, a team of scientists has just found the key to producing the first silicon-free photovoltaic cells.
Russian material to create the solar panels of the future: what it has been discovered
A group of materials with a specific crystal structure called Perovskite are viewed as a possible alternative to silicon for the applications of solar cells. ‘Perovskite’ is a name inspired by a mineral mineral of same name, which was first taken out from the Ural Mountains in Russia in 1839.
The perovskite structure is known to be more efficient in the regard of light absorption and charge-generation in contrast to the traditional silicon one underneath the impact of solar shine. A perovskite cell has a perovskite material sandwiched between two electrodes as the main part of the system.
One electrode generates a flow of electrons while the other charges positively when photons knock electrons loose from perovskite through the light and put holes in their place. It does so by producing a potential difference as by the rate of electron flow.
New solar panels to reduce dependence on silicon: more efficiency and less cost
Researchers from the University of Michigan have invented a new kind of solar panels. Based on Perovskite materials rather than silicon. This invention uses transparency, flexibility, and superthin-ness that can be can stacked 20 times on a single human hair, as described by experts.
This solar cell is built of various layers, ranging among organics and inorganics materials placed in between two electrodes. The working layer that absorbs sunlight and converts it into energy is a perovskite based material, (FAPbI3). Thanks to this crystal-like structure, the covering has the ability to absorb light at different wavelengths.
The scientists were the first to apply a novel roll-to-roll procedure for the deposition of perovskite layers on the flexible plastic coating. Due to this property, the solar panel is flexural, lightweight and semi-transparent. Being just 2 micrometers thick the graphene sheet is better than hair strand thickness for humans.
Only last year, the efficiency of this new solar technology, which has been tested in a laboratory, was reported to be as high as 25%, which is equal to the efficiency of the silicon cell which has been around for a while. They try to achieve their goal through the selection of appropriate materials and the use of optimized production.
Why avoinding silicon in solar panels could be a good idea: the advantages
The recent perovskite solar cells provide major superiority they have over the traditional silicon solar panels. Undoubtedly, perovskite solar cells produce electricity at a much higher count per absorbed sun electricity.
On the other hand, industrial silicon panels currently show a rough maximum efficiency of around 20 to 22 percent. In contrast, perovskite cells have already reached above 25 percent efficiency in lab tests. With research still on the horizon, experts marvel at the 30% or higher efficiency estimates they imagine for perovskite.
Besides that, the surface area for the perovskite solar panels can be reduced by 3-10 times compared with the silicon ones that means the cost of perovskite solar panels will be much cheaper than that of silicon ones. Therefore, perovskite solar power possesses a great advantage in the manner of high-speed mass production.
The low cost in conjunction with a high degree of efficiency has made perovskite solar the best chance for silicon technology to be replaced. With brands that successfully promote perovskite technology, it is quite likely that it will manage to occupy the biggest share of global solar PV market.
Silicon-free solar panels are undoubtedly the biggest breakthrough that photovoltaics has achieved in recent years. Ahead, the search continues for more efficient materials than monocrystalline silicon, such as those derived from titanium or rare earths, although the latter are responsible for China’s dominance of the industry, so we have another hurdle to overcome.
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