Scientists create solar cell coating that can turn objects into solar panels

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Scientists create solar cell coating that can turn objects into solar panels

Scientists create solar cell coating that can turn objects into solar panels

Industry News
Aug 13,24

Unlike traditional silicon-based solar panels, this innovative material can be applied to everyday items like backpacks, cars, and buildings.

Scientists create solar cell coating that can turn objects into solar panels

Researchers at Oxford University have unveiled a revolutionary technology that could transform how we harness solar energy. They have developed an ultra-thin, light-absorbing solar cell coating that can be applied to almost any surface, turning it into a solar panel.

Unlike traditional silicon-based solar panels, this innovative material can be applied to everyday items like backpacks, cars, and buildings. The researchers have achieved an impressive energy efficiency of over 27% by stacking multiple light-absorbing layers, which matches the performance of conventional solar panels.

Dr Shuai Feng Hu, Physics Researcher, Oxford University commented, “In just five years of developing our stacking or multi-junction approach, we have increased power conversion efficiency from around 6% to over 27%. We believe this technology could eventually surpass 45% efficiency.”

The new material has also been independently verified by Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.

This new material offers several advantages over existing solar technologies. Its flexibility and slim design enable it to be applied to curved surfaces, potentially reducing the need for large solar farms. The ability to convert sunlight into electricity more efficiently could drive down solar energy costs and enhance its sustainability.

Dr Junke Wang, another researcher involved in the project said, “Our new coating material not only matches but potentially surpasses the efficiency of silicon-based panels while offering greater flexibility. This means we can generate more solar power without relying on large-scale solar farms or numerous silicon panels.”

(TOI)