A team of researchers has discovered that tiny, ever-changing structures inside cutting-edge solar cell materials could be the key to making solar panels more efficient and longer-lasting.
The study, published in Nature Nanotechnology and featured on the journal’s front cover, sheds light on the hidden behaviors of these miniature structures—known as nanodomains—inside a promising class of materials called lead halide perovskites.
Perovskites have been a major focus in solar energy research over the past decade because they can absorb sunlight very efficiently and are cheaper to produce than traditional silicon-based solar cells.
However, despite their promise, perovskite solar cells still face challenges when it comes to durability and consistent performance. That’s where nanodomains come in.
The study, led by Milos Dubajic and Professor Sam Stranks from the University of Cambridge’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, has revealed how these nanodomains behave.
With support from international collaborators—including teams from Imperial College London, UNSW Sydney, Colorado State University, and several advanced research facilities—the researchers used sophisticated X-ray imaging techniques to observe how the tiny structures move and interact within the perovskite material.
What they found is that the nanodomains, which are just billionths of a meter in size, don’t stay still. Instead, they shift and change dynamically.
This constant movement affects how electrons—energized by sunlight—move through the material. Since the efficiency of a solar cell depends heavily on how well it can collect and transport these energized electrons, understanding these behaviors is critical.
Until now, the role of these dynamic nanodomains wasn’t fully understood.
But by creating a detailed model of their behavior using a technique called X-ray diffuse scattering, the team identified three distinct types of nanoscale motion within the perovskite structure.
These movements influence the material’s internal electric fields, which in turn affect how energy flows through the solar cell.
According to Milos Dubajic, by learning how to control these nanodomains, scientists could fine-tune the performance of perovskite solar cells and other light-sensitive technologies.
Professor Stranks added that this breakthrough takes us one step closer to developing solar energy technologies that are not only more powerful but also more stable over time.
This discovery could have a major impact on the future of renewable energy. By improving the efficiency and durability of solar panels using insights at the nanoscale, this research supports the global push for clean, reliable, and affordable energy solutions.
As scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of perovskites, the future of solar power looks brighter than ever.
