Design World

  • Home
  • Articles
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
  • Suppliers
  • 3D CAD Models
    • PARTsolutions
    • TraceParts
  • Webinars
  • Leadership
    • 2019 Winners
    • 2018 Winners
    • LEAP Awards
  • Engineering Resources
    • 3D Simulation Resources
    • DIGITAL ISSUES
      • EE World Digital Issues
    • LEAP Awards
    • MC² Motion Control Classroom
    • Podcasts
    • Totally Integrated Automation
    • Women in Engineering
  • Ebooks / Tech Tips
  • Videos
  • Subscribe

Tandem Perovskite Could Hold Key to Lower Cost Solar Cells

By Spencer Chin | May 14, 2019

Share

While numerous efforts are underway to develop solar cell materials of the future, the hurdles have been photovoltaic efficiency and cost.

But a University of Toledo physicist has made significant progress in material chemistry and processing and may be close to achieving a breakthrough in solar cell performance.  Working in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab, Dr. Yanfa Yan, University of Toledo professor of physics, expects the material, called tandem perovskite, to be designed into full-sized solar panels in the not-too-distant future.

Yan envisions perovskites, compound materials with a special crystal structure, to provide a higher-performance alternative to silicon for future solar cells.

“We are producing higher-efficiency, lower-cost solar cells that show great promise to help solve the world energy crisis,” says Yan. “The meaningful work will help protect our planet for our children and future generations. We have a problem consuming most of the fossil energies right now, and our collaborative team is focused on refining our innovative way to clean up the mess.”

Yan’s research paper, published in the journal Science, explains how photovoltaics researchers are tweaking a lead and tin mix to improve the efficiency of the perovskite material in solar cells. So far, the scientists have achieved a maximum efficiency for the new solar cell of 23 percent. By comparison, existing silicon solar panels are about 18 percent efficient.

To improve the structural and optoelectronic properties of the mixed lead-tin perovskite films, the scientists used a chemical compound called guanidinium thiocyanate. The research builds upon work Yan’s team conducted at the University of Toledo five years ago, when the scientists identified the ideal properties of perovskites. Yan has spent 20 years trying to produce an all-perovskite tandem solar cell to harness the sun’s energy for electric power.  

Last month, the U.S. Department of Energy gave Yan a $1.1 million grant to further his research in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Lab.

“Our University of Toledo research is ongoing to make cheaper and more efficient solar cells that could rival and even outperform the prevailing silicon photovoltaic technology,” adds Dr. Zhaoning Song, research assistant professor in the University of Toledo Department of Physics and Astronomy and co-author on the study. “Our tandem solar cells with two layers of perovskites deliver high power conversion efficiency and have the potential to bring down production costs of solar panels, which is an important advance in photovoltaics.”

Yan’s team is doing further work to increase the material’s efficiency and stability, as well as ensure solar panels made from the material can be recycled to minimize harm to the environment.

DESIGN GUIDES



PTC Creo

Enews Sign Up

Motion Control Classroom
Leadership in Engineering

Design World Digital Edition

September 2019 issue

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • The Decision-Makers’ Guide to Additive Manufacturing: Explore the essentials of today’s AM environment and improve your results
  • The First 3 Things any Injection Molding Service Checks on Your Parts
  • Elastomeric Couplings Provide Reliable Performance on Pipeline Injector Pumps
  • Consistent linear motion systems with the PBC Linear Uni-Guide
  • New Nested Spirawave® Wave Springs from Smalley
  • What are the four torque characteristics associated with stepping motors?
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Tweets by @DesignWorld
Design World
  • Advertising
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Engineering White Papers
  • LEAP Awards

Copyright © 2019 WTWH Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media. Site Map | Privacy Policy | RSS

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Articles
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
  • Suppliers
  • 3D CAD Models
    • PARTsolutions
    • TraceParts
  • Webinars
  • Leadership
    • 2019 Winners
    • 2018 Winners
    • LEAP Awards
  • Engineering Resources
    • 3D Simulation Resources
    • DIGITAL ISSUES
      • EE World Digital Issues
    • LEAP Awards
    • MC² Motion Control Classroom
    • Podcasts
    • Totally Integrated Automation
    • Women in Engineering
  • Ebooks / Tech Tips
  • Videos
  • Subscribe
We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website.OkNoRead more