Scientists in South Korea have created a new kind of flexible solar cell that works well even in high humidity, marking a major step forward for solar energy.
The breakthrough was made by the Energy & Environment Materials Research Division at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), led by Dr. Dong-chan Lim and Dr. So-yeon Kim.
Their work, recently published in the Chemical Engineering Journal, could help make solar power cheaper and more widely available—especially for portable and wearable devices.
The key material used in these solar cells is called perovskite.
It’s seen as a strong alternative to traditional silicon because it’s lightweight, inexpensive to make, and absorbs sunlight very effectively.
Perovskite can also be made into flexible films, which opens the door for rollable panels or solar-powered clothing and gadgets.
But there’s been a big problem: perovskite breaks down easily when exposed to moisture.
Because of this, manufacturers have had to use special equipment to keep the air dry during production, which raises costs and limits where and how solar cells can be made.
To solve this problem, the research team developed a new way to protect the light-absorbing layer of the solar cell.
They placed a special type of perovskite—called a two-dimensional or 2D perovskite—on both the top and bottom of the cell. This helped seal out moisture and make the cell more stable.
Thanks to this method, the team was able to build flexible perovskite solar cells that kept working even when the humidity reached 50%. These cells held on to more than 85% of their power output after running for over 2,800 hours.
The cells also passed tough mechanical tests. After being bent 10,000 times, they still worked at 96% of their original efficiency.
Even in extreme stress tests where the cells were pushed and pulled sideways, they held 87% of their performance. This shows that the new design is not only moisture-resistant but also strong and flexible.
What’s even more exciting is that the team was able to apply this technology to large-scale production. That means it’s not just a lab success—it could be made in factories and used in real-world products.
Dr. Lim explained that being able to make these high-efficiency solar cells in normal air, without expensive equipment, could greatly lower production costs.
This innovation could pave the way for solar panels built into clothes, backpacks, or even cars.
The team now plans to continue improving the technology and expand it to different environments and larger production systems, aiming to bring durable, affordable solar power to more people around the world.
Source: KSR.
