In a recent report by the Physicists Organization Network, U.S. scientists have unveiled a groundbreaking advancement in photovoltaic materials. These new solar panels are not only more efficient but also significantly cheaper to produce. For over four decades, researchers have aimed to create bulk photovoltaic materials that can capture not just ultraviolet light, but also visible and infrared light. Now, this long-sought goal has finally been achieved with the development of this innovative material.
The material was developed by a team from the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University, and it offers three major advantages. First, it allows for the creation of thinner solar panels compared to traditional silicon-based ones. Second, its raw materials are far less expensive than those used in high-end thin-film solar cells. Third, the material is ferroelectric, meaning its internal polarity can be switched on and off, which could push the theoretical limits of solar cell efficiency beyond current capabilities.
One of the main reasons for low efficiency in solar panels is that photons entering the cell tend to scatter, reducing their ability to generate electricity. To guide them in one direction, multiple layers of different materials are typically needed. Each layer causes some energy loss. The new material reduces the number of these layers, thereby minimizing energy waste. Additionally, ferroelectric properties help direct the particles using less energy.
It took scientists five years to design the material, which is composed of perovskite crystals made from potassium citrate and lanthanum gallate. The results show that it outperforms existing ferroelectric materials and can absorb six times more solar energy. Researchers believe further adjustments to the composition could lead to even greater efficiency.
Jonathan Spanneil from Drexel University’s Materials Science and Engineering department remarked, “This material is remarkable because it’s made from inexpensive, non-toxic, and abundant elements—unlike many current high-efficiency thin-film solar cells that rely on complex semiconductor composites.â€
The research team used specialized tools to demonstrate that the new material can move energy in a single direction, rather than bouncing between layers, thus reducing energy loss. This phenomenon, known as the bulk photovoltaic effect, has been recognized since the 1970s. However, until now, it had only been observed in ultraviolet light. Most of the sun's energy lies in the visible and infrared spectrum, and this new material enables the effect to be harnessed in those ranges.
Furthermore, the team showed that by adjusting the composition of the material, the energy band gap can be reduced. Spanneil explained, “The band gap of this material is initially in the UV range, but increasing the niobium content by just 10% shifts it into the visible range, bringing it closer to the ideal value for solar energy conversion.â€
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