A new transparent tandem solar cell combining layers of perovskite and organic layers with a 30% transparency achieves a record 12.3 % efficiency. The cell collects energy from the infrared and ultraviolet parts of the spectrum but not visible light. Its semi-transparency allows it to be used as a semi-transparent solar window. While the efficiency is a little over half that of a PV solar cell, it is a new efficiency record for transparent solar cells, also known as photovoltaic glass.
The new cell can be
incorporated easily into buildings providing additional energy harvesting
capabilities. There are still hurdles to making the technology cost-effective
but scale-up evaluation is being pursued. The many large buildings with
significant window areas can benefit from such technology.
Transparent solar has long
been considered viable for the future for both windows and glass screens. A
2020 article in Interesting Engineering explored a Korean innovation using
silicon alternated with metal oxides (nickel and zinc) to harness UV light.
Research leader Professor Joondong Kim noted:
“We hope to extend the use of our TPV design to all
kinds of material, right from glass buildings to mobile devices like electric
cars, smartphones, and sensors.”
Bio-Based Nanocellulose UV Protection Film Blocks UV Light
That Degrades Solar Panels
A new biological-based
nanocellulose material infused with red onion extract was found to outperform
petroleum-based materials such as polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) and polyethylene
terephthalate (PET). The new material blocked 99.9% of UV light and should be
able to extend the life of solar panels.
According to Interesting
Engineering:
“The research team systematically evaluated four
distinct bio-based protective films composed of cellulose nanofibers. These
materials were treated with red onion extract, lignin, and iron ions—each of
which has demonstrated UV-blocking properties in prior studies.”
“Among the tested samples, the red onion extract-infused
film exhibited the most effective UV attenuation.”
For the materials to be most effective they must be
transparent. While the lignin and other materials block UV light they are less
transparent than the red onion infused material which achieved 80%
transparency.
The study also simulated
degradation over time. They tested the different materials on dye-sensitized
solar cells (DSSCs)─devices that are extremely prone to UV degradation. The
researchers also think the new discovery will be applicable to organic solar
cells and perovskite solar cells. Below is the conclusion of the paper that
showed the red onion infused material lasted over five times longer than
conventional petro-based films, 8500 hours vs. 1500 hours.
“This study presents a comparative analysis of the
long-term performance of cellulose-based films as sustainable UV light filters
for optoelectronic applications. The findings reveal significant performance
changes during aging, with the UV cutoff wavelength shifting even by tens of
nanometers and visible range transmittance varying considerably, highlighting
the importance of such evaluations to ensure the filters’ long-term suitability
for these applications. To assess their UV-shielding properties, the films were
applied to DSSCs─devices highly susceptible to UV degradation─and subjected to
accelerated aging tests under artificial sunlight for 1000 h. UV–vis-NIR
spectroscopy revealed that the red onionskin-dyed CNF film (CNF-ROE) was
particularly effective in UV shielding, blocking 99.9% of the radiation below
400 nm. The 1000-h light soaking test demonstrated that the CNF-ROE filter film
effectively minimized electrolyte color bleaching and preserved JSC of the
DSSC, outperforming other films, including the commercial SFC-10l filter.
Predictive modeling based on the accelerated aging test projected that CNF-ROE
could retain the lifetime of DSSCs for approximately 8500 h, significantly
longer than the 1500 h for typical, commercially available, conventional,
fossil-fuel-based UV filter. While the results obtained using TOCNF-Fe3+,
TOCNF-ECH Fe3+, and CNF-LNP support previously reported trends in the
literature indicating that sustainable and biobased filters generally cause
more significant losses in the visible range compared to conventional filters,
the CNF-ROE filter proved to be an interesting exception. Notably, the CNF-ROE
filter film reached the highest transmittance (higher than 80%) in the 650–1100
nm range, outperforming other filters in preserving visible light transmission. These
findings indicate that red onion-based films hold great promise in UV
protection and support their consideration for optoelectronic applications
where sustainability is crucial.”
References:
Transparent
solar tech sets new efficiency record with 12.3% power conversion rate. Christopher
McFadden. Interesting Engineering. March 23, 2025. Transparent
solar tech sets new efficiency record with 12.3% power conversion rate
Red
onion waste becomes powerful solar cell shield that blocks 99.9% of UV rays. Sujita
Sinha. Interesting Engineering. March 20, 2025. Red
onion waste becomes powerful solar cell shield that blocks 99.9% of UV rays
Sustainable
Nanocellulose UV Filters for Photovoltaic Applications: Comparison of Red Onion
(Allium cepa) Extract, Iron Ions, and Colloidal Lignin. Rustem Nizamov, Aapo
Poskela, Joice Kaschuk, Karl Alexander Henn, Rafael Grande, Sari Granroth, Mikael
Nyberg, Maryam Esmaeilzadeh, Jaana Vapaavuori, Monika Österberg, and Kati
Miettunen. ACS Applied Optical Materials. Vol 3/Issue 3. February 24, 2025. Sustainable
Nanocellulose UV Filters for Photovoltaic Applications: Comparison of Red Onion
(Allium cepa) Extract, Iron Ions, and Colloidal Lignin | ACS Applied Optical
Materials
See-Through
Solar Cells Might Signal Dawn of Personalized Energy, Study Says. Researchers
in Korea invented a solar cell harnessing UV light to generate ‘personalized
energy.’ Brad Bergan. November 4, 2020. See-Through
Solar Cells Might Signal Dawn of Personalized Energy, Study Says
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