Perovskite Solar Cells Achieve Higher Efficiency Than Traditional Panels

Engineers have achieved a significant milestone in solar energy technology, paving the way for the next generation of solar cells. A recent breakthrough in manufacturing methods has enabled the development of solar cells using perovskite semiconductors, which could potentially revolutionize the industry by offering lower costs and higher efficiency.

Traditionally, solar panels have been predominantly made from silicon, with an efficiency of around 22 percent. However, this efficiency is limited as silicon can only convert about one-fifth of the sun's energy into electricity. Additionally, the production process for silicon panels is costly and energy-intensive.

Perovskite, a synthetic semiconducting material, holds promise for surpassing silicon in both efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Researchers have been exploring perovskite solar cells, which can potentially convert substantially more solar power at a lower production cost.

A major challenge in scaling up perovskite solar cells for commercial use has been the manufacturing process. Until now, coating the semiconductor onto glass plates—the building blocks of solar panels—had to occur in a controlled environment to prevent the perovskites from reacting with oxygen, which diminishes their performance.

However, a breakthrough has been made. By adding dimethylammonium formate (DMAFo) to the perovskite solution before coating, researchers have found a way to prevent oxidation and enable coating in ambient air. This innovation not only simplifies the manufacturing process but also enhances the cells' stability.

Tests have shown that perovskite cells made with DMAFo can achieve an efficiency of nearly 25%, comparable to the current record for perovskite cells. Moreover, these cells demonstrate improved stability, retaining 90 percent of their efficiency after exposure to simulated sunlight for 700 hours.

This advancement brings perovskite solar cells one step closer to commercialization. With further development, including the creation of stable tandem perovskite cells with efficiencies exceeding 30%, these solar cells could potentially dominate the market and become the next generation of solar energy technology.