Chinese scientists have created a new high-efficiency solar element
Chinese scientists have made a major breakthrough in the energy sector, achieving a significant milestone expected to usher in a new era in renewable energy. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
They succeeded in creating a new generation of solar cells with an efficiency exceeding 33% efficiency. The project was carried out by specialists from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as from Soochow and Southeast Universities.
This discovery is expected to take the efficiency of solar panels to an entirely new level. The key feature of this technology lies in the combination of simple silicon and perovskite layers.
Such hybrid elements are considered the future of energy, as they allow generating much more electricity from the same area compared to traditional panels. For a long time, creating such structures was hindered by problems related to the silicon base structure.
To better capture sunlight, the silicon surface is usually textured into a specific shape and coated with microscopic pyramids. However, the perovskite layer tends to form unevenly on the peaks of these pyramids, leading to electrical losses and reducing the device’s stability.
Chinese researchers solved this issue positively using a protective method. They applied an ultra-thin protective layer made of aluminum oxide onto the tips of the silicon pyramids using special polystyrene spacers.
As a result, a record efficiency indicator was achieved for solar cells. For comparison, the efficiency of commonly used conventional panels today is around 20–23%, while even the best samples do not exceed 24%.
The new development stands out not only for its efficiency but also for its durability. During testing, the battery retained 90% of its power after continuous operation for a thousand hours.
Most importantly, this new technology is fully compatible with existing industrial equipment. This means manufacturers can switch to producing more efficient panels of the new type without having to completely rebuild their factories.
This invention will soon expand the accessibility of affordable and powerful solar energy.
