Oxford scientists develop new material that can turn regular objects into solar panels

Scientists at Oxford University may have made a significant breakthrough in expanding access to solar energy. Researchers from the university’s physics department have developed an ultra-thin material that could potentially replace traditional, bulky silicon-based solar panels.

This new technology involves a flexible film that can be applied to the exterior of objects exposed to sunlight, offering a more versatile and efficient alternative to current solar energy solutions.

The innovative material is composed of layers of light-absorbing perovskite, stacked together to form a film just over one micron thick. Remarkably, this film is 150 times thinner than conventional silicon wafers, yet it can generate 5 per cent more energy efficiency compared to traditional single-layer silicon photovoltaics, as per Oxford University’s statement.

Dr Shauifeng Hu, a postdoctoral fellow at Oxford, has expressed optimism about the potential of this approach, suggesting that it could eventually enable photovoltaic devices to achieve energy efficiencies exceeding 45 per cent.

This technological advancement could also significantly reduce the cost of solar energy. The ultra-thin and flexible nature of the film allows it to be applied to nearly any surface, minimising construction and installation expenses. This could lead to an increase in the number of solar energy farms, further promoting the use of sustainable energy sources.

However, the technology is still in the research phase, and questions remain about the long-term stability of the perovskite-based panels. While perovskite has shown impressive gains in efficiency, jumping from 6 to 27 per cent in just five years, its stability remains a concern.

The US Department of Energy and a 2016 study published in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells have highlighted that perovskite’s sensitivity to moisture can lead to poor stability, which has been a limiting factor compared to more established photovoltaic technologies.

Despite these challenges, solar energy has become increasingly affordable over the past decade. The cost of solar photovoltaic technology has dropped by 90 per cent in the last 10 years, according to data from the Global Change Data Lab. This reduction in cost has contributed to the growth of solar energy farms worldwide.

In recent developments, the US Department of Energy announced plans to convert an 8,000-acre site, once part of the Manhattan Project’s nuclear weapons program, into a solar farm.

Additionally, Google has made a significant investment in a Taiwanese solar company to develop a 1-gigawatt pipeline in the region. These initiatives highlight the ongoing global commitment to expanding solar energy infrastructure and the potential impact of new technologies like the one being developed at Oxford University.