Powering drones with ultra-thin, flexible perovskite PV cells
An Austrian research team has demonstrated that lightweight, flexible and ultra-thin perovskite solar technology can power palm-sized autonomous drones.
New vapor deposition tech could accelerate commercialization of perovskite solar cells
A U.S.-based team developed a vapor deposition technique to fabricate outperforming all-inorganic perovskite thin films in under 5 minutes in a continuous process. The adoption of the proposed approach may also result in higher perovskite solar cell power conversion efficiencies.
Triple-junction solar cells have technical potential to reach 44.3% efficiency
A research team has investigated the optical properties of perovskite/perovskite/silicon triple-junction cells and has found these devices may have a practical efficiency potential of 44.3% assuming idealized electrical parameters. These cells may also potentially achieve a fill factor of 90.1%.
Sunrise brief: DOE funds heated sand energy storage project pilot
Also on the rise: Developing hydrogen fuel from iron-rich rocks. Off-grid solar bench with wireless charging and Wi-Fi, And more.
Sunrise brief: Solar generated 5.5% of U.S. electricity in 2023, a 17.5% increase
Also on the rise: Grid operators in California and Texas earn “B” grades, others score poorly. Calculating potential impact of EPA’s $7 billion Solar for All program. And more.
MIT research provides roadmap to perovskite passivation
In previous work, research teams developed methods for passivation, but there wasn’t clear understanding of how the process works. The new MIT study provides details on how to passivate the material’s surface so that the perovskite no longer degrades so rapidly or loses efficiency.
Sunrise brief: First Solar could have $5 billion impact on U.S. economy by 2026
Also on the rise: Arizona approves “discriminatory” charge on rooftop solar customers. California needs 10 GW of solar deployment in five years, 57.5 GW by 2045. And more.
Fully printable flexible perovskite solar cell achieves 17.6% efficiency
Developed by scientists in Canada, the 0.049 cm2 solar cell was built in ambient air fabricationand with a reactant known as phenyltrimethylammonium chloride (PTACl). It achieved an open-circuit voltage of 0.95 V, a short-circuit current density of 23 mA cm−2, and a fill factor of 80%.
Sunrise brief: Debunking solar myths–solar is unreliable
Also on the rise: Rooftop solar has technical potential to meet 45% of U.S. electricity demand. Raising consumer confidence critical to energy transition. And more.
U.S. researchers develop perovskite solar mini-module with 19.21% efficiency
The scientists built the panel with perovskite solar cells treated with trifluoromethane sulfonate to combat iodide defects. The mini module reportedly achieved the highest efficiency ever recorded for its size to date, with the result being confirmed by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
