Scientists from Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) have succeeded in running an ultra-stable perovskite solar cell for more than a year now without a dip in performance.
This kind of solar cell is lauded as being a cheaper and more efficient way of creating solar energy that has incredible potential for commercialisation, but the operational stability of such cells are still below market requirements.
However, it certainly seems as though this is set to change given the achievements of the EPFL team. A 2D/3D hybrid perovskite solar cell was engineered, which has allowed scientists to fabricate efficient and stable solar cells – crucial if they’re to be upscaled for commercial use.
The team made solar panels using an industrial-scale process, which has resulted in the solar cells delivering 11.2 per cent efficiency constantly for over 10,000 hours, while exhibiting zero loss in performance under standard conditions.
Earlier this year, researchers at the UT Dallas Nano-Tech institute also started looking into how perovskites (minerals that were first discovered back in 1839 in the Urals) could be utilised in the production of alternative solar cell materials.
Deputy director of the institute professor Anvar Zakhidov told EE News Europe recently that these minerals have lots of physical properties that can’t be found elsewhere and they could be particularly promising for the solar power industry and the emergence of other alternative energy sources.
One of the main advantages of perovskites is that they can be made using industrial chemicals and common metals, so there’s no need to bring in more expensive raw materials.
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