Researchers at the University of Oxford have succeeded in generating solar power without traditional solar systems. They coated everyday devices such as backpacks, cars and smartphones with perovskite films and turned them into mini power plants.
Solar systems are playing an increasingly important role in the energy transition. But many systems are bulky and cannot be installed everywhere. Scientists at Oxford University therefore developed a method to generate solar energy without traditional solar panels.
To do this, they coated everyday objects such as backpacks, cars and smartphones with a new, light-absorbing material. This ultra-thin and flexible coating is made of perovskite. The material is now able to achieve a similarly high level of energy efficiency as silicon panels.
Solar power: Everyday devices become solar systems
The special thing about this material is the flexible application scenarios. Because perovskite can be applied to almost any surface. Solar energy could be generated in places where it was previously unimaginable. By stacking multiple light-absorbing layers in a solar cell, a broader spectrum is created, meaning more energy can be obtained from the same amount of sunlight.
The researchers, led by Professor Henry Snaith, increased the material’s energy conversion efficiency from six to over 27 percent within five years. They believe that their process could achieve even higher efficiencies of over 45 percent in the long term.
Perovskite: Coating is only one micrometer thick
Since the material is only about one micrometer thick, it is almost 150 times thinner than a silicon wafer. This allows manufacturers to apply it to a variety of surfaces. Examples include car roofs, buildings or even the backs of cell phones. In the long term, the technology could reduce the need for traditional solar panels and lead to fewer solar farms in empty fields.
The company Oxford PV emerged from the university and has already begun large-scale production of these perovskite photovoltaics. It thus operates the world’s first production line for “perovskite-on-silicon” tandem solar cells in Brandenburg.
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The article Perovskite coating: Researchers generate solar power without a solar system by Felix Baumann appeared first on BASIC thinking. Follow us too Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
As a tech industry expert, I am incredibly excited about the potential of perovskite coatings for generating solar power without the need for traditional solar panels. This innovative technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about solar energy production and make it more accessible and affordable for a wider range of applications.
Perovskite coatings have shown great promise in recent years due to their high efficiency and low cost compared to traditional silicon-based solar panels. By harnessing the power of sunlight through these coatings, researchers are able to generate electricity in a more efficient and sustainable way.
This breakthrough could have far-reaching implications for the renewable energy industry, as it opens up new possibilities for integrating solar power into a variety of everyday objects and surfaces. For example, perovskite coatings could be used to power buildings, vehicles, and even wearable devices, offering a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional power sources.
Overall, the development of perovskite coatings for solar power generation represents a major step forward in our efforts to combat climate change and transition towards a more sustainable energy future. I look forward to seeing how this technology continues to evolve and make a positive impact on our world.
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