A new player has emerged in the battle for the best solar cell. Perovskite solar cells, which could theoretically generate more energy from the sun, have long been viewed as too weak. But a new hybrid version containing perovskites may finally solve that problem.
Most solar panels use silicon solar cells, but we’ve reached the limits of their capacity. In theory, perovskite could generate more power from sunlight. Not only that, it’s also lighter, cheaper, and more flexible to work with. The problem has always been that perovskite solar cells break down quickly, and solar panels need to be able to withstand the elements.
Hybrid solar panels are somewhat organic.
New Atlas Reports suggest that Zhejiang University in China may have the answer. They call their invention High Entropy Hybrid Perovskite (HEHP), and it combines perovskite layers with organic intermediate layers. This makes the solar cell more resistant to heat and water, meaning there’s a much lower chance of damage. In experiments, the cell maintained its 98% efficiency after 1,000 hours in the sun. The researchers expect that degradation won’t accelerate until after 5,000 hours.
Equally important: The perovskite solar cell converted a lot of energy from sunlight. Initially, it achieved an efficiency of 25.7 percent, which is good compared to current solar cells. In theory, this type of solar cell could extract much more energy from sunlight.
Due to the popularity of solar cells, there is a global race to develop the most sustainable, cheapest and best performing solar cells. Perovskites are also often used for this. In the Netherlands, the purchase of solar panels will continue to be encouraged for the time being, thanks to the offset system.
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