Perovskite solar cells are a promising technology for important photovoltaic applications which require high specific power and mechanical compliance. Despite their potential, these devices suffer from poor operational stability, so a team of researchers decided to develop lightweight, thin, flexible and transparent 2D perovskite solar cells.
Challenges in Meeting Energy Demands
Whether on Earth or in space, autonomous energy is an important component in keeping power systems running independently for extended periods of time. This is particularly crucial in remote or unpredictable environments.
There are conventional energy solutions which show promise in meeting the energy needs of modern society, including batteries, fossil fuels, and other alternative energy generation approaches. However, they also pose some challenges such as very low power density, negative impact on the environment, demand for cables or stationary charging, and very large dimensions.
A new material known as perovskite shows potential in creating ultra-thin and flexible solar cells. These devices are proven to be a lightweight and efficient solution to generate self-sufficient energy over extended periods of time.
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A Groundbreaking Development
At Johannes Kepler University-Linz (JKU), a team of experts has reported their success in developing ultra-lightweight quasi-2D perovskite solar cells with a comparatively high level of stability and an unmatched power output of up to 44 W/g. The details of their study is discussed in the paper "Flexible quasi-2D perovskite solar cells with high specific power and improved stability for energy-autonomous drones."
Led by Christoph Putz, the research team developed an ultralight and flexible solar cell module which is 20 times thinner than a strand of human hair. This module has the ability to power a wide range of electronics anywhere there is light. With thickness that is less than 2.5 micrometers, the quasi-2D perovskite solar cells can deliver 20.1% efficiency while maintaining a high degree of flexibility. Most of all, it has a remarkable power density of 44 W/g which sets it apart from other kinds of solar cell technologies.
The team's goal was to develop operationally reliable, highly stable, and flexible solar cells with a high power-to-weight ratio. To make this possible, there must be a balance between low gas and moisture permeability. It comes with a high degree of flexibility and transparent plastic substrates mixed with sturdy photovoltaic materials. To improve the operational stability of the solar cells, the team applied a transparent aluminum oxide layer to the thin film and then optimized the solar cell material itself.
To test the capabilities of the new technology, the experts fitted a palm-sized, commercial quadcopter drone with the ultra-light solar cells. Twenty-four of them were integrated into the frame of the drone, making up just 1/400 of its total weight. This arrangement allowed the drone to work in a self-sufficient way and demonstrate consecutive charge-flight-charge cycles without getting bound to wired for recharging.
According to Putz, ultra-thin and lightweight perovskite solar cells not only have huge potential in revolutionizing the generation of energy in the aerospace industry. He also believes that it also has a wide range of applications which include the Internet of Things and wearable electronics. Putz believes that adaptable, lightweight and highly efficient photovoltaics could be the key to developing the generation of self-sufficient energy systems in the future.
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