Articles tagged with Photovoltaics
A study published in Cell Reports Physical Science found that magenta solar panels can increase broccoli yield and efficiency by 4.5 times, allowing for the growth of traditional-sized broccoli in 25 days. The technology has potential for farmers to generate renewable energy while sustaining crop yields.
NTU Singapore has successfully launched the CRIMSON-1 satellite, carrying pioneering perovskite solar cells and AI capabilities to test their performance in space. The satellite aims to evaluate lightweight perovskite solar technology and on-orbit AI-based image processing in extreme environments.
Researchers developed a Prussian blue-based strategy to regulate crystallization and ion migration in perovskite solar cells, achieving high power conversion efficiencies. The strategy controlled crystallization and suppressed ion migration, promoting preferential crystal growth and alleviating tensile lattice strain.
Researchers from the University of Surrey have found that silicon solar cells can reduce satellite power costs by up to 90% by improving efficiency and reducing material costs. The study also showed that silicon cells can be used to halve the weight of solar cells needed on spacecraft, freeing mass for fuel or instruments.
Researchers develop novel non-fullerene acceptors to improve organic photovoltaic efficiency and stability through molecular engineering. The study reveals that optimizing molecular aggregation states and crystallinity leads to efficient charge generation and transport, resulting in high-performance OPVs.
Researchers developed a perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell with a record voltage of 2.014V and 34% efficiency. The nano-scaffold innovation uses zirconia nanoparticles to improve perovskite growth and suppress interface recombination.
Researchers have successfully deployed underwater solar cells to generate 324 mWh of energy at 10 meters below sea level. The cells retained 96% of their initial efficiency after 300 days and showed exceptional long-term operational stability.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have designed a new tin-based perovskite with built-in protection against air and moisture, addressing one of the biggest challenges facing tin-based perovskite solar cells. The new material achieved 16.2% efficiency and remained stable during extended testing.
A new additive, 2-aminobenzothiazole, enhances the efficiency and longevity of tin perovskite solar cells by regulating crystallization, reducing trap formation, and inhibiting tin oxidation. This study shows a substantial increase in solar cell performance and improved device stability.
Researchers at the University of Osaka developed novel chiral hole-transport materials that improve perovskite solar cells with strong chirality-induced spin selectivity. The materials showed spin polarization reaching about 60% and a power conversion efficiency of 20.64% in cells treated with the homochiral material.
Scientists at HZB developed a solution to improve perovskite growth on textured silicon substrates, using a caesium chloride seed layer to enhance uniformity and prevent lead iodide formation. This boosts efficiency in tandem solar cells to record values.
Researchers developed azaphenanthrene-fused non-fullerene acceptors with enhanced crystallinity and packing order, leading to high-efficiency devices. The N/halogen engineering strategy achieves a record 20.18% power conversion efficiency in binary organic solar cells.
Researchers developed a technique to control internal structure of semiconductor materials using ultra-fast flashes of light, producing materials with up to 50 times more electrical current from light. The method works on transparent conducting glass, preserving useful properties that conventional heating methods cannot easily achieve.
A new study finds that the world's growing solar panel waste could deliver significant economic benefits if recycled properly. Researchers estimate that global PV waste will reach 297-402 million tonnes by 2060, containing valuable materials like silicon and metals.
Scientists have developed a new synergistic metallization strategy for TOPCon solar cells, achieving a certified power conversion efficiency of 26.31%. The approach reduces optical shading and contact resistance losses, boosting the short-circuit current density to a record high.
Researchers at Kaunas University of Technology have created a more stable interface between the different layers of perovskite solar cells, improving their efficiency and operational lifetime. The new concept enables large-area modules to be coated with a uniform layer, allowing for practical application testing.
Researchers developed a new method to improve the fabrication of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) through blade coating, enabling large-scale manufacturing of high-efficiency perovskite solar cells. The approach enhances device reproducibility and stability by suppressing SAM aggregation.
Researchers have improved TOPCon solar cells' power conversion efficiency using a new synergistic metallization strategy. This approach enables efficient charge extraction while preserving passivation layers, resulting in high certified PCE of 26.31% and boosted short-circuit current density.
Researchers have developed a lightweight receiver that captures energy from laser beams and converts it into electricity, enabling wireless charging of drones in mid-air. The technology uses a perovskite laser cell-thermoelectric tandem device to generate power, overcoming the challenge of battery life for long-duration missions.
A new strategy for boosting the performance of layer-by-layer organic photovoltaics (LOPVs) has been developed by incorporating a high-mobility crystallinity material into the acceptor layer. This approach achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.81%.
A new AI-based system called ShadowSense learns from real-world data to predict short-term changes in solar module power output. The system outperforms conventional methods with an accuracy rate of over 92%, providing valuable insights for electricity grid management.
Researchers at HZB developed a novel perovskite triple-junction solar cell with a GO/SAM bilayer, achieving an efficiency of 27.3% and retaining over 90% of its original efficiency after 770 hours. This study demonstrates the potential of all-perovskite multi-junction solar cells for high power conversion efficiencies.
Researchers from CityUHK successfully recycle spin-triplet excitons, increasing power conversion efficiency in organic photovoltaics to 20.5%. By fine-tuning the side-chain structure and exciton delocalisation, they facilitate the dissociation of triplet excitons, paving the way for next-generation high-performance organic solar cells.
The study isolated the effect of dielectric screening on excitonic properties in 2D perovskites. The research team found that changes in organic spacer length lead to a substantial rise in exciton binding energy.
A new record for a CIGS-perovskite tandem solar cell has been set with an efficiency of 25.5%, converting 25.5% of sunlight into electrical energy. The team achieved this efficiency through the use of optimized intermediate layers and a combination of CIGS and perovskite materials.
A new study reveals rooftop solar panels can offset nearly half of increased electricity demand during peak cooling periods. Climate change alone is projected to push up residential cooling demand by 5%, but rooftop solar growth could halve this additional load, easing pressure on the grid.
Researchers introduce a photoisomeric additive that anchors mobile ions and stabilizes the material during UV exposure, improving device performance. The study shows improved film quality, reduced degradation, and enhanced power conversion efficiency.
Researchers have developed a new passivation strategy to improve the efficiency and operational stability of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. The method uses polystyrene nanospheres as a template to deposit an insulating layer, suppressing electrical leakage and achieving high power conversion efficiencies.
A study by National Taipei University of Technology found that offshore floating solar systems can generate up to 12% more electricity than traditional land-based systems. This increased energy output leads to greater carbon emission reductions due to the cooling effect of surrounding water, which absorbs heat and improves efficiency.
Researchers at NTU Singapore created perovskite solar cells that are 10,000 times thinner than human hair and achieved high power conversion efficiencies. These semi-transparent cells could be integrated into buildings, vehicles, and wearable devices without changing their appearance.
Researchers developed an additive design strategy to control crystallization in all-perovskite tandem solar cells, achieving a certified power conversion efficiency of 30.3%. The strategy promotes homogeneous nucleation and uniform crystal growth, improving film uniformity and reducing defects.
Researchers developed an integrated diagnostic technique to monitor internal chemomechanical stress dynamics in perovskite solar cells. A critical device power conversion efficiency threshold was identified, allowing for targeted structural recovery and a 12% PCE enhancement after dark recovery.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a method to make perovskite-based photovoltaics more durable by adding two key ingredients, skipping the yellow phase and degrading slower. The films retain 98% of their initial efficiency even after 1,200 hours of exposure.
A new universal model explains and guides energy level alignment in perovskite solar cell interfaces using hole-collecting monolayers, enabling optimized interfacial energy levels and reduced development time. The study provides practical guidance for designing materials with improved performance for emerging solar technologies.
Researchers developed a method that improves perovskite solar cell performance by triggering molecular interactions at the interface between two films, resulting in more efficient and durable material. The technique achieved a power conversion efficiency of 25.61%, surpassing previous records.
A new technique uses a single image to forecast solar panel energy production and maximize output. The method estimates the amount of energy that will be produced based on the angle of the sun, shadows, reflections, and weather patterns, allowing for more accurate placement and optimization of solar panels in urban areas.
Using three-dimensional electron diffraction, researchers demonstrate that electrons can provide averaged structural information previously accessible only with X-rays. They also optimize the electron dose and develop tailored acquisition strategies to probe highly sensitive nanocrystalline structures while preserving the material.
Researchers developed a novel spatial-confinement strategy to stabilize high-efficiency perovskite solar cells. The new design creates a 'molecular lock' at the interface, improving durability and thermal cycle stability.
Rice University scientists have created a new type of two-dimensional semiconductor that exhibits no distortions, allowing for efficient energy transfer. The material's performance is an order of magnitude better than previously reported perovskites, making it suitable for applications such as solar cells and tandem devices.
TUM researchers have identified the microscopic causes of instability in perovskite solar cells and developed a strategy to prevent degradation through temperature swings. They discovered that a 'burn-in' phase triggers early loss of relative performance, but using special organic molecules as spacers can stabilize the material.
Researchers developed an innovative colloidal chemistry strategy to enhance the performance of all-perovskite tandem solar cells, achieving a power conversion efficiency of 29.76%. The unified carboxylate-based modulator system regulates nucleation dynamics, suppressing phase segregation and promoting uniform crystal growth.
Researchers successfully captured singlet-fission-amplified excitons with a molybdenum-based emitter, achieving 130% quantum yield and pushing the limits of solar cell efficiency. The team used a metal complex called 'spin-flip' emitter to harvest multiplied energy from singlet fission.
Researchers integrated transient optical spectroscopy with ultrafast electron microscopy to capture both electronic and structural dynamics simultaneously. This enables the study of heterogeneous materials, phase transitions, and light-driven functional responses with implications for solar cells, quantum computing, and next-generation...
A novel strategy to regulate the buried interface through multifunctional molecular bridges enables efficient defect passivation and improved energy-level alignment. This results in improved efficiency and long-term stability of perovskite solar cells.
A novel multi-stage concentrating and spectrum-splitting coupling approach is proposed for complementary PV-TPV conversion. The system decouples temperature and concentration ratios, enabling efficient thermophotovoltaic conversion of high-energy photons.
Industry-wide shift towards n-type TOPCon technology dominates market share, with silicon solar cells reaching new heights in efficiency. Perovskite solar cells break single-junction barrier, while organic solar cells cross 20% efficiency threshold.
A two-year study found that small household solar power systems have limited capacity, typically only 6 watts, which does not deliver meaningful energy services. Households with access to higher-capacity systems (50+ watts) reap the most direct benefits and are more likely to adopt additional solar components.
A team of scientists and industry experts investigated the challenges of developing new solar cells, including copper indium gallium diselenide and perovskite. They recommend focusing on material resilience, stability, and sustainability to ensure long-term success.
Xiwen Gong and Zhen Xu, both from the University of Michigan Engineering, received the award for developing optoelectronics and histotripsy, a cancer treatment using sound waves. The new treatment can spare patients from chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Researchers at ISTA discover perovskites' unique photovoltaic properties rely on structural defects, enabling long-range charge transport. This finding accelerates the transition of next-gen perovskite solar cells to real-world applications.
A new international study found that deploying next-generation solar panels at scale could reduce global carbon emissions by up to 8.2 billion tonnes by 2035. The technology, known as tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) photovoltaics, has lower environmental impacts in fifteen out of sixteen categories compared to the incumbent PE...
A new stabilization approach for perovskite solar cells effectively blocks photo-induced decomposition pathways, delivering a certified power conversion efficiency above 26%. The strategy suppresses radical reactions responsible for light-induced degradation by scavenging reactive oxygen species and passivating electronic defects.
A new bilayer perovskite strategy improves long-term stability in solar cells by combining a hybrid organic-inorganic absorber with an ultrathin inorganic capping layer. The approach delivers record-level efficiency together with exceptional operational stability, demonstrating a viable pathway toward durable, high-performance perovski...
NTU Singapore is launching three new space projects under the Space Access Programme to accelerate the commercialization of space technologies. The projects include an AI-enabled satellite, a nanosatellite testing next-generation solar cells, and another nanosatellite with advanced propulsion systems.
A team of University of Toledo physicists predicts significant growth for cadmium telluride photovoltaics in the US, with a target manufacturing capacity of 100 gigawatts by 2030. The technology offers advantages over silicon photovoltaics, including improved performance in hot and humid climates, and supports national energy security.
Scientists introduce a groundbreaking approach to generate significant photocurrents from perfectly symmetric materials by engineering surface electronic states. This discovery opens new pathways for designing ultrafast spintronic devices and energy harvesting systems.
Researchers used a quantum device to simulate a vibrating molecule, tracking how energy moves within it. They found that vibrations can actively steer energy flow in unexpected ways, speeding up transfer and opening new pathways.
Researchers tested large-scale roofing assemblies with mounted PV solar panels, exposing the leading edge to flame and crosswind to understand fire hazards. The study aims to update building codes and fire mitigation protocols for commercial and industrial solar panel installations.
Physicists at Trinity College Dublin propose a new means of capturing useful energy from light sources like sunlight, lamps, and LEDs. Theoretical analysis may lead to the development of optical devices that can channel light energy into a concentrated beam.
The new vapour-deposition method delivers unprecedented durability in perovskite–silicon tandem solar cells, achieving over 30% power-conversion efficiency and operating stability exceeding 2,000 hours. This breakthrough paves the way for real-world deployment of tandem solar modules.