Solar windows: Australian scientists pioneer light-transmitting tech
Scientists have made significant strides in developing windows that can simultaneously function as sources of electrical energy. This has been achieved through the development of perovskite cells, which can transmit over 20% of visible light.
15 November 2024 15:11
This innovative technology has been advanced by a team of experts from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, led by Professor Jacek Jasieniak from the Department of Materials Engineering at Monash University in Australia.
How do windows generate electricity?
According to the portal Interesting Engineering, this new solution significantly increases the amount of visible light that passes through the cells, enhancing their potential applications.
Earlier work by this team resulted in the creation of semi-transparent perovskite cells, which achieved a solar energy to electricity conversion efficiency of 17% while transmitting 10% of visible light. Modern technologies now allow transmitting twice as much light with nearly the same efficiency of 15.5%.
Will this new invention revolutionise the market?
Professor Jasieniak noted that this is an essential step towards realising highly efficient and stable perovskite devices, which could be used as solar windows, offering a new perspective in the market.
Australian research could lead to the future production of cells combining the functions of solar panels and window panes. Moreover, Professor Jasieniak's group has developed cells with an efficiency of only 4.1% but with a light transmittance level of 52.4%. This suggests that perovskite devices are becoming increasingly reminiscent of transparent panes.
