Researchers one step closer to efficient, next-gen solar panels

Researchers from the University of Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute have found that a nanoscale ‘ink’ coating of aluminium oxide on metal halide perovskite improves its potential and stabilises the drop in energy output that currently affects perovskite technology. Hashini Perera, lead author of the study, said metal oxides have been shown to either benefit or degrade the performance of perovskite solar cells. The researchers found that aluminium oxide allows a uniform coating of perovskite material on highly promising organic molecules that self-assemble on a surface and improve device output.

Dr Imalka Jayawardena from the University of Surrey said the researchers switched to examining perovskite as a next-generation solar technology due to the performance limits of traditional solar cells. “Our key development in solar panel technology shows a cost-effective approach to scaling of perovskite solar cells, a development which could help countries around the world to reach their net zero targets faster,” Jayawardena said.

Professor Ravi Silva, corresponding author from the University of Surrey, said solar and wind energy costs are rapidly decreasing based on technology improvements, to the level where worldwide over 80% of all new additional power generation capacity is based on renewables. “The levelised cost of solar electricity is now cheaper than most other power-generating sources. With the maturing of perovskite solar modules, the levelised cost of electricity will significantly decrease further, and that is why this is such an exciting area to work,” Silva said.

The research was published in the journal RRL Solar.

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