Chinese scientists develop environmentally friendly solar cells.

 

Chinese

Chinese scientists develop environmentally friendly solar cells.

 Scientists from Fudan University in China have developed a tin-based solar cell that achieves power conversion efficiency comparable to conventional lead-based counterparts.

This innovation accelerates the application of perovskite solar cells, a leading trend in next-generation photovoltaic technologies for everyday use.

The scientists explained that perovskite solar cells are among the most promising innovations due to their high efficiency and low production costs. However, their reliance on the toxic element lead has raised concerns about their potential for widespread use. Lead, used in the manufacture of solar cells, is a challenge for experts due to its health and environmental risks.

The team developed a lead-free alternative that achieved a record power conversion efficiency of 17.7%, the highest to date for this type of cell.

"Tin is an ideal choice because it is readily available, safe, highly compatible with solar energy conversion, and easy to manufacture on a large scale," said study co-author Liang Jia.

He added, "While previous tin-based cells struggled to exceed 10% efficiency due to the ease of oxidation of tin ions and the instability of the interface between the layers, our team was able to redesign that interface by introducing a thin molecular layer that forms a homogeneous interface with a perfect match in energy levels."

He explained that this new design helps create a superwet substrate that guides the growth of uniform, high-quality tin-based perovskite films while minimizing structural defects.

Liang noted that the raw material cost for tin-based cells is theoretically much lower than their silicon-based counterparts, emphasizing that this technology is particularly suitable for energy applications that come in direct contact with humans.

This technology is expected to be widely used for green photovoltaic energy in building-integrated installations, wearable devices, vehicle roofs, and off-grid clean energy systems.