Oxford Develops Perovskite Coating for Efficient Solar Energy Conversion

The climate crisis, driven by the critical role of fossil fuels, is accelerating the shift towards clean and renewable energy sources. As the solar panel sector grows, the scientific community is continually exploring ways to harness more energy from the sun.

In recent years, a material known as perovskite has emerged as more efficient than traditional silicon-based solar panels. This material is often referred to as a “miracle material” due to its success in converting sunlight into energy.

Researchers from the Physics Department at Oxford University have developed a coating made from perovskite layers. This coating is 150 times thinner than the silicon layer used in traditional solar panels and can be applied to many different products, unlike silicon.

The research team has achieved a 27% efficiency with the coating, while silicon cells convert about 22% of sunlight into energy. Although the study has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, Oxford University has stated that the new coating’s 27% efficiency has been validated by an independent organization.

Dr. Shuaifeng Hu from the research team noted: “In just 5 years, we have increased power conversion efficiency from about 6% to over 27% with stacking or multi-junction approaches, which is close to the limits achievable with single-layer photovoltaics today.”

Scientists believe the miracle material could eventually provide efficiencies above 45%. One challenge with solar energy is finding space to install large solar farms. The new coating’s ability to be applied to various surfaces could help address this issue.

Researchers claim that the perovskite coating can convert sunlight into energy when applied to items like backpacks, phones, and cars. However, they do not aim to replace solar farms with this flexible and thin coating.

Junke Wang from the Oxford team told CNN, “I can’t say we want to eliminate solar farms because it’s clear that we need large areas or surfaces to produce sufficient solar energy.”

One of the primary challenges with the miracle material is its durability. Previous studies have shown that perovskite degrades quickly in laboratory conditions. While scientists work to overcome this issue, Oxford researchers suggest that the new coating could be used in the construction and automotive industries.

Henry Snaith, the team leader, stated: “The latest innovations in solar energy materials and techniques in our labs could lay the groundwork for a new industry producing materials that enable more sustainable and cost-effective solar energy using existing buildings, vehicles, and objects.”