Some experts may have predicted that solar would one day dominate the renewable energy sector, but no one could have predicted the range of photovoltaic (PV) cells that would become an optionable choice for consumers. One PV cell stands out, but its greatest challenge has left it undesirable, until now. ‘Squid panels’ have been unveiled by Korean scientists, proving that their PV cells can offer a lasting impression after all. Will this breakthrough reform the entire sector? We guess time will tell.
A great solar solution, but with one great obstacle
The most commonly used PV cell in the solar industry today is silicon cells. The technology has been significantly advanced since the very first panel design, reaching new heights in efficiency and especially durability. However, experts in the field have revealed that silicon has met its match, as another PV cell material showcases results that prove to be more beneficial in the following ways:
- Using it in tandem with silicon increases efficiency to potentially over 30%
- Production is less energy-intensive
- Significantly lower production costs
- High flexibility, which increases its versatility
- Improved performance in low-light conditions
- Adjustable bandgap
Unfortunately, regardless of all these benefits, there is still one great obstacle that this PV cell material must overcome before it can truly be a game-changer material in the solar industry. Now, a scientific breakthrough has been made by a team of scientists from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology and the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea that solves this obstacle.
The first ‘squid panel’ could be the ultimate solution
In the scientists’ study published in the scientific journal Advanced Energy Materials, they have taken action in solving perovskite PV cells’ greatest obstacle: operational lifespan. While it is known that perovskite has been breaking efficiency records in tandem panels, rapid degradation has been holding this PV cell material back.
The following factors result in perovskite’s rapid degradation by targeting its absorption layer:
- Humidity
- Heat
- Light
- Electrical stress
- Oxygen
The latter is the greatest threat of them all, as oxygen is converted into superoxide radicals, which form gaps between the material and the metal-oxide layers. Encapsulation has been explored as a solution, but it has been found that:
“No seal, however tight, can prevent this internal damage.”
Now, all of it will change, as the scientists have found the ultimate solar solution by creating ‘squid panels,’ which consist of taurine, an admixture found in cephalopods, such as squid and octopuses.
From lasting production to a lasting impression
By using methods based on “density-functional theory,” the scientists found that taurine buffers perovskite in two stages:
- Impeding superoxide radicals that form on the tin-dioxide surface. Superoxide is changed to hydrogen peroxide, which is safer for perovskite
- Taurine and hydrogen peroxide react to prevent a damaging feedback loop by converting iodine gas into iodide ions
The study’s results indicate that taurine thus offers a closed cycle of protection. It also found that taurine lowered the density of defect sites known as “electronic trap sites.” The ultimate result that created a lasting impression was that taurine significantly improved the durability of perovskite. After 180 hours of operation in the encompassing air under daylight conditions, 80% of efficiency was maintained.
These findings have proven that biologically-inspired methods can significantly enhance the design of perovskite PV cells, opening new doors for the PV cell material to potentially replace silicon panels on a commercial level. However, this method is presently still in the research and development stage, and only time will tell when perovskite solar panels’ average lifespan of 30 years will increase. For now, scientists in Germany are working hard to achieve the ultimate solar efficiency level of 50%, and they are close!
