Solar energy is cheap and easy to find, but that doesn't mean it's perfect. Solar panels, usually made of silicon, have a high initial cost and usually last between 25 and 30 years.
Therefore, it makes sense for scientists to look for durable alternative materials to make the solar cells that make up solar panels.
Now researchers at Princeton University show that a mineral called perovskite, which has properties similar to silicon, can be used to make durable solar cells.
Perovskite is relatively inexpensive because perovskite cells can be made at room temperature, unlike silicon cells, which are made at 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that less energy is required to produce these cells, making the process more sustainable and economical. That's why clean energy experts call it the "wonder material."
This material also has the advantage of being lighter than silicon, but this means that it is more brittle. This is one of the reasons why perovskites are not yet used to make durable solar panels.
More importantly, perovskites are not considered a good alternative to silicon-based solar cells due to their long lifetime. The first generation of perovskite cells can exist for only a few minutes and subsequent generations for only a year.
But a perovskite solar cell has recently shown that it can last longer than the typical lifespan of most solar panels, which is less than 30 years. Combined with the familiar functionality of Perevskit, it can be a complete game changer.
So where do we go now?
If technology continues to improve, future solar panels may frequently use this material. However, this does not mean that we will abandon silicon solar cells in the near future.
We will probably start incorporating more perovskite into new solar panels, which will reduce costs.
"It's like Michael Jordan on the basketball court," said Joseph Berry, a senior scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory who specializes in solar physics. "That in itself is great, but it makes all the other players better."
As solar technology continues to improve, new developments, such as the use of perovskite solar cells, can help make solar panels more efficient and affordable for everyone.
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