‘This represents a significant step’

A major obstacle has been keeping next-generation solar panels from going mainstream. Now, scientists in South Korea may have solved it.

Researchers at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology and Gyeongsang National University have created a new kind of perovskite solar cell that can stand up to extreme heat and moisture. 

Perovskite solar cells have long been hailed as the next big thing in clean energy. In theory, they’re cheaper and more efficient than today’s widely used silicon solar panels. 

But they have one big problem: They break down easily under heat and humidity, making them tough to use in real-world conditions where rooftop panels regularly bake in the sun.

This new study, published in Energy and Environmental Science, could change that.

Instead of relying on a common chemical additive (called tBP) that improves performance but lowers temperature resistance, the researchers swapped in a different compound called ethylene carbonate.

By doing this, a heat-stable protective layer was created. This kept the solar cell working at high levels, even after 1,000 hours of 85 degrees Celsius heat (185 degrees Fahrenheit) and 85% humidity.

That means better durability for everyday use, with no compromise on performance. The team’s perovskite cell had a high 25.56% initial efficiency and kept over 85% of that after much heat and humidity testing. 

Even when scaled up to the size of a solar panel module, the technology continued to perform strongly.

This innovation is a huge leap forward in making perovskite solar tech commercially viable. The new design solves long-standing durability issues, which could pave the way for wider adoption of affordable, accessible solar energy.

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More durable solar means more savings over time for homeowners and entire communities, as well as reduced reliance on dirty energy sources like coal and methane gas. 

As relayed by Tech Xplore, Professor Dong Suk Kim, who led the study, called the research “a significant step toward the practical application of perovskite solar cells.”

This is the kind of forward-thinking tech we love to see, especially as more and more households are installing panels.

While there’s no certainty as to when this new tech will become widely available, researchers are optimistic that commercial release will happen sooner rather than later.

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