Researchers at Linköping University in Sweden have made an exciting breakthrough in creating organic solar cells that are efficient, environmentally friendly, and safe for large-scale production.
This development could make clean, affordable solar energy even more accessible and help fight climate change.
With the growing demand for electricity—driven by electrification and advances in technologies like artificial intelligence—the world needs more renewable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions.
Solar power is one of the most promising options, and organic solar cells are a standout among new solar technologies.
Unlike traditional silicon-based solar panels, organic solar cells are made from lightweight, flexible plastics that conduct electricity.
They are easy and inexpensive to produce and can be applied to surfaces like windows, clothing, or indoor spaces, powering everything from personal electronics to building systems.
While their efficiency is nearing that of traditional solar panels, converting about 20% of sunlight into electricity, there’s been a catch: producing them often involves toxic solvents that harm the environment and pose risks to factory workers.
To address this problem, a team of researchers led by Feng Gao, a professor of optoelectronics at Linköping University, has developed a new method for making organic solar cells using safe, non-toxic solvents.
This advancement could pave the way for large-scale, eco-friendly production of these solar cells.
“To truly scale up production with printing technologies or other methods, we need to stop using harmful chemicals,” says Gao. “This breakthrough means it’s now possible to make organic solar cells without toxic substances, which is good for both the environment and people.”
The team worked with researchers in China and the United States to deeply study the way molecules interact in organic solar cells.
They examined how solvents mix with materials that carry electric charges, focusing on every step of the process, from the initial chemical solution to the final solar cell structure.
To do this, they used advanced X-ray and neutron imaging techniques, which allowed them to observe the interactions at a molecular level. With this knowledge, they developed a design principle that works with many environmentally friendly solvents—and they hope to eventually use water as a solvent.
Understanding how these molecules behave is no small task. The process involves tracking the ultra-fast movement of electrons and how they transfer between materials in nanoscale structures. The researchers were able to map these interactions and create a method that results in efficient, toxin-free solar cells.
“This new method means we have a much better chance of scaling up the technology and making it widely available,” says Gao.
The researchers believe their work could lead to a future where solar cells are produced safely and sustainably, without the harmful chemicals currently used. Their findings, published in Nature Energy, open the door for cleaner, more affordable energy solutions that benefit both people and the planet.
With this breakthrough, the vision of a greener, more energy-efficient world is closer than ever.
Source: Linköping University.
