Solutions to improve solar cell productivity

The UN summit on climate change defines sunlight as a clean and endless energy source, promising to completely replace fossil fuels that are polluting and about to run out. However, the conversion efficiency of solar energy into solar cells is still too low (less than 20%) while production and reinstallation costs are high. Therefore, the scientific community is still studying new and more effective solutions and the following 5 improvements are expected to change solar energy technology in the coming time:

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Perovskite minerals

This is a mineral in the soil and named after the Russian mineralogist Lev Perovski. Since 2009, researchers around the world, including Oxford University (UK) and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), have begun to pay attention to the ability to absorb energy from extremely good light. of perovskite. So far, "fever" perovskite continues.

After the discovery of perovskite activity, the team led by expert Michael Graetzel at EPFL developed a new solar cell and potential applications to support existing panels."You can put perovskite on a traditional silicon battery to increase their efficiency. This is a less expensive way and can become an attractive application for them to become more efficient , " Graetzel said. The biggest advantage of perovskite is that it is quite common in nature and cheaper than silicon used in today's solar cells. Therefore, perovskite is expected to help create efficient and versatile solar batteries, meeting future energy needs.

Light convergence technology

Normally, the focus of sunlight on photovoltaic panels needs to have a specially designed mirror system and the lens must move continuously in the direction of the Sun. If this cost is eliminated, product cost will be significantly reduced.

Glint Photonics' new design, with its ability to concentrate and store sunlight to produce electricity, is considered a viable solution to overcome the high cost and low efficiency of solar cells. Accordingly, light convergence devices automatically monitor the sun and can change the reflectivity depending on the direction of the Sun, allowing it to focus energy and store in the battery.

Manufacture solar batteries from old car batteries

This is an application of Angela Belcher and his team at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In it, they use recycled lead from old car batteries as an alternative source of solar cells made from perovskite. Because perovskite materials are only a few micrometres thick, the amount of lead needed is low. Lead in a car battery can produce enough photovoltaic batteries to power 30 households. The reuse of lead in car batteries also helps protect the environment.

Solar battery transparent

The team of experts at the University of Michigan (USA), led by Associate Professor of Chemical and Materials Science and Technology Richard Lunt, successfully built a transparent optical battery that opens rich application potential for batteries. Sun on computers, phones or buildings.

Lunt's team replaced silicon materials in photovoltaic battery systems with organic molecules capable of absorbing invisible wavelengths, such as ultraviolet and near infrared rays. Although the technology is still new and has low efficiency, this solution is believed to have many applications in the commercial and industrial sectors.

Solar energy batteries cool themselves

A significant limitation of photovoltaic batteries is that they are too hot, resulting in significantly reduced performance and battery life. To overcome this problem, the Stanford University team (USA) has developed a system of normal panels but coated with a special glass made of ultra-thin silica.

This silica material is designed to be only a few micrometers thick and has a tapered pyramid to reflect infrared radiation rays into the air, helping solar panels to heat but still ensuring the ability to absorb sunlight and production. Power output. The team said they are verifying the cooling ability of the prototype system and hope it will soon be applied to reality.

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