Transparent solar panels break the efficiency record

Transparent solar panels are nothing new. But it is difficult for the panels to make the most out of solar rays, the efficiency is low and further engineering and development are needed.

However, efficiency is increased with a new design by a group of researchers from the University of Michigan. In fact, she broke the record with an efficiency of 8%.

The study is published in the Procedures of the National Academy of Sciences.

Tall buildings, which block the sun from reaching and leaving the cities, are a great source of converting solar rays into energy.

Raise the beam high

The researchers achieved efficiencies of 8.1% and 43.3% transparency thanks to a carbon-based design instead of commonly used silicon.

“The new material we developed, and the structure of the device we built, had to balance multiple trade-offs to simultaneously provide solar absorption, high voltage, high current, low resistance and color-neutral transparency,” explained assistant research scientist Yongxi Li to Michigan News.

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There are currently two versions of solar cells. One is color neutral, which was made with an indium tin oxide electrode and the efficiency went up to 10.8% with a 45.8% transparency thanks to a silver electrode. The other, however, has a light green tint, which may not make it suitable for some window applications.

Expect to reach a large mass

The versions also have an advantage because they are produced with less toxic materials, including silicon nets.

Organic molecules are designed to be transparent and absorb near-infrared light, an invisible part of the spectrum that accounts for much of the energy.

Of course, scientists, like any ambitious and detailed study, are not done with research. Of course, we are looking for higher efficiency and looking for cost-effective ways to install the cells on new and existing buildings.