Squeezing out every drop of energy from as many photons of light that reach solar panels has been the driving force for technological advancements in the solar industry to date.
This demonstration may prove it has been worth it:
New research published in the journal Nature details how scientists have demonstrated a breakthrough that may solve this issue. This game changer could make solar cells less expensive, easier to manufacture and more efficient at harvesting energy from the sun. The key to this innovative idea lies in the solar cell construction process.
The breakthrough is a family of materials that exhibit the bulk photovoltaic effect for visible light, which will make for more photon capture. This research is important because the materials made are composed of inexpensive, non-toxic and earth-abundant elements, unlike compound semiconductor materials currently used in efficient thin-film solar cell technology.
Credits of this study:
The study was led by professor Andrew M. Rappe and research specialist Ilya Grinberg of the Department of Chemistry in Penn's School of Arts and Sciences, along with chair Peter K. Davies of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and professor Jonathan E. Spanier, of Drexel's Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
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