Scientists from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) in Lithuania have made an exciting discovery that could make solar panels better and last longer.
They’ve developed a new material that, when used in solar cells, improves their efficiency and durability.
This is great news for the future of solar energy, making it a more reliable and cost-effective source of power.
Perovskite solar cells are a type of solar panel that has been getting a lot of attention because they can turn sunlight into electricity very efficiently and could potentially be made cheaply and in large quantities.
However, one of the big challenges has been making these cells stable enough to last a long time without losing performance.
The KTU team has created a special kind of material that helps solve this problem.
This material is a new version of a compound called 9,9′-spirobifluorene, and it’s used in a part of the solar cell called the hole transporting layer.
What’s unique about this material is that it forms a strong, three-dimensional network after it is heated, which is excellent for making solar cells more stable.
This process of heating and forming the network is not only effective but also quick and doesn’t require very high temperatures. This is important because too much heat can damage the delicate parts of solar cells.
Their new material works well in two types of perovskite solar cells, making both kinds more efficient at converting sunlight to electricity and more stable over time.
This is a big step forward because it means solar panels could last longer and perform better, making solar energy a more practical option for more people.
The material has such potential that the scientists have applied for patents in the European Union, the United States, and Japan. They believe it could be widely used in making better solar panels in the future.
This discovery is part of an ongoing collaboration between Lithuanian scientists and researchers from Japan, including Professor Atsushi Wakamiya at Kyoto University. Together, they’ve been working on making perovskite solar cells better and more reliable.
Professor Vytautas Getautis, the lead researcher, and his team at KTU have been behind many innovations in solar technology.
They’re motivated by the belief that solar energy, which is clean and green, will play a big part in our future energy supply.
With advancements like this new material, we’re getting closer to a world where a significant portion of our electricity comes from the sun, making our energy supply more sustainable and less harmful to the planet.
