Oxford scientists' new light-absorbing material can turn everyday objects into solar panels
Oxford scientists developed an ultra-thin, flexible solar material that could revolutionize solar energy collection.
Oxford University researchers have developed a novel ultra-thin material that offers a significant advancement in solar energy technology. This new material, composed of perovskite layers just over one micron thick, is 150 times thinner than traditional silicon wafers and boasts a 5% higher energy efficiency compared to conventional silicon photovoltaics.
Dr. Shauifeng Hu from Oxford's physics department believes this approach could push photovoltaic devices to exceed 45% efficiency. Thanks to its flexibility, this film can be applied to various surfaces, potentially lowering construction and installation costs and increasing the number of solar farms. However, concerns about its long-term stability remain, as perovskite's sensitivity to moisture has been noted in past studies.
Despite these challenges, the cost of solar energy has dramatically decreased by 90% over the last decade, making it a more viable power source. Large-scale solar projects are underway, such as the US Department of Energy's initiative to transform an 8,000-acre site into a solar farm and Google's investment in a Taiwanese solar company for a 1 gigawatt pipeline.