Scientists from the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford (UK) have developed an ultra-thin light-absorbing material that is flexible enough to be applied to the surface of almost any structure or object, with the potential to generate almost twice as much energy as current solar panels. The technology comes at a crucial time for the solar boom, as human-caused climate change is warming the planet, forcing the world to accelerate its transition to clean energy.

Oxford University researcher Hu Shuaifeng tests a new thin film made from the material perovskitePhoto: Martin Small

The solar coating is made from a material called perovskite, which is more efficient at absorbing solar energy than the silicon-based panels that are widely used today. That’s because perovskite’s light-absorbing layers can capture a wider range of light from the solar spectrum than traditional panels. More light means more energy.

The Oxford scientists are not the only ones to produce such a coating, but theirs is remarkably efficient, capturing around 27% of the energy from sunlight. Current silicon-based solar panels typically convert a maximum of 22% of sunlight into energy.

The researchers believe that over time, perovskite could achieve efficiencies above 45%, as evidenced by the increase in output they achieved from 6% to 27% in just five years of testing. “This is important because it promises to deliver more solar energy without the need for silicon-based panels or specially constructed solar farms,” said Junke Wang, one of the Oxford scientists. “We can envision perovskite coatings being applied to a variety of surfaces to generate cheap solar energy, such as car roofs, buildings, and even the backs of mobile phones,” Wang said.

At just over a micron thick, the coating is 150 times thinner than the silicon wafers used in today’s solar panels. And unlike current silicon panels, perovskite can be applied to almost any surface, including plastic and paper, using tools like inkjet printers.

One issue with perovskite is its stability, which has prevented developers from commercializing the technology. Some coatings have melted or decomposed in a short time in lab settings, making them less durable than current solar panels.

Thai An (according to CNN, Coldwell Solar)