What are halide perovskites and how can they benefit solar panels?
You have no doubt heard about solar panels, but have you heard about halide perovskites? The chances are that you haven’t, yet this family of exciting materials is set to offer a real leap forward in the field of power conversion and performance.
There has only been one issue to date – halide perovskites are not stable; however, an innovation has been discovered: tiny concavities are present in the crystalline microstructure of the material. If these can be removed, the film becomes incredibly stable. This could help engineers make impressive leaps forward with solar devices and transform the way in which energy is produced across the world.
How will halide perovskites help solar energy?
When companies such as https://gsmlimited.com/services/solar-panels/worcester install solar panels Worcester, they do so knowing that they are not always hugely energy efficient. This is because solar energy cells, made out of silicon, are limited by their material instability. Research shows that halide perovskites decompose when they are exposed to oxygen and moisture or exposed to heat, light, or applied voltage over time; therefore, the emphasis to date has been on making them more reliable.
Innovations from Hong Kong
The latest research from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has shown exactly why these metal films degrade over time and heralds innovations in ways to improve the material structure. By removing the concavities on the surface of the halide perovskites, the research team was able to create films that were significantly more stable.
By understanding the grain surface of these materials and applying chemical engineering to adjust their geometry, it is possible to make halide perovskites solar PV cells with greater stability and efficiency. This means solar energy panels will be far more powerful and also durable.
The future of solar energy?
This is just one example of how solar energy is constantly evolving into better and better solutions. It promises to greatly improve the next generation of renewable energy solutions to make them better and more energy-efficient than ever before.
