Next Generation Solar Cells

The competition between the world’s leading companies to increase the efficiency of solar cells is more intense than ever. Companies from the USA, Europe and Asia are investing considerable resources in research and development in order to produce the most efficient and cost-effective solar cells. Particularly promising in this regard are perovskites, a class of materials that has attracted attention in recent years due to its high efficiency in converting sunlight into electrical energy.

Energy revolution with perovskite cells
Photovoltaic modules usually have three layers: a positively charged layer, a negatively charged layer and a boundary layer. When sunlight hits the solar cell, the photons excite electrons in the module, creating voltage (photoelectric effect), which is converted into solar electricity. Perovskite cells contain materials with positive and negative charges, so the three-layer structure is no longer necessary. Nevertheless, modern perovskite solar cells have special structures to optimally absorb sunlight. Their efficiency is now over 25 %, close to that of silicon cells. Perovskite solar cells can also be applied to flexible substrates, enabling new applications in building cladding and portable electronics. Their production is cheaper and less energy-intensive compared to conventional silicon solar cells, making them an attractive option for mass production.

Further development with the XRDynamic 500
The same efficiency as silicon (and rising), high flexibility and production without dependence on Chinese raw materials – with all these advantages, the question arises as to why perovskite cells have not yet conquered the market. The main reason is their lack of longevity so far. Perovskite solar cells cannot yet keep up with the established silicon modules, which last around 25 years, and researchers are working hard to solve this problem. The XRDynamic 500 from Anton Paar is a key instrument in perovskite research. This sophisticated X-ray diffractometer is used to precisely analyze the crystal structures of perovskites. The detailed analysis allows the material properties to be specifically optimized in order to further increase the efficiency of the solar cells. Experts expect perovskite cells to enter the market in around two to five years, as development is progressing rapidly – also because of Anton Paar’s XRDynamic 500.