Oxford scientists develop new material that can turn ordinary objects into solar cells – Firstpost

Scientists at the University of Oxford may have made a major breakthrough in expanding access to solar energy. Researchers in the university’s physics department have developed an ultra-thin material that could potentially replace traditional, bulky silicon-based solar panels.

This new technology is a flexible film that can be applied to the outside of objects exposed to sunlight, offering a more versatile and efficient alternative to current solar energy solutions.

The innovative material consists of layers of light-absorbing perovskite stacked on top of each other to form a film just over a micrometer thick. Remarkably, this film is 150 times thinner than conventional silicon wafers, but can still produce 5 percent more energy efficiency than conventional single-layer silicon photovoltaics, according to the Oxford University statement.

Dr. Shauifeng Hu, a postdoctoral fellow at Oxford, expressed optimism about the potential of this approach, saying that it could ultimately lead to photovoltaic systems achieving efficiencies of over 45 percent.

This technological advancement could also significantly reduce the cost of solar energy. Because the film is ultra-thin and flexible, it can be applied to almost any surface, minimizing construction and installation costs. This could lead to an increase in the number of solar farms and further promote the use of sustainable energy sources.

However, the technology is still in the research phase and questions remain about the long-term stability of perovskite-based panels. While perovskite has shown impressive efficiency gains – increasing from 6 to 27 percent in just five years – its stability remains a concern.

The U.S. Department of Energy and a 2016 study published in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells have highlighted that perovskite’s moisture sensitivity can lead to a lack of stability, which is a limiting factor compared to more established photovoltaic technologies.

Despite these challenges, solar energy has become increasingly affordable over the past decade. According to data from the Global Change Data Lab, the cost of photovoltaic technology has fallen by 90 percent over the past decade. This cost reduction has contributed to the growth of solar energy farms around the world.

Most recently, the U.S. Department of Energy announced plans to convert an 8,000-acre site that was once part of the Manhattan Project nuclear weapons program into a solar farm.

In addition, Google has invested significantly in a Taiwanese solar company to build a 1 gigawatt pipeline in the region. These initiatives underscore the ongoing global commitment to expanding solar energy infrastructure and the potential impact of new technologies such as those currently being developed at Oxford University.