A field of solar panels by Michael Pointner
It might still be too early to tell, but this new technology is giving silicon solar cells a run for their money.
In 2025 the highest certified efficiency for a
single-junction perovskite solar cell is 26.7%. To put this into perspective, a
regular solar cell has an efficiency rate between 15 and 22%.This may not seem
like much but it’s enough to put a significant dent in your energy bill.
As solar
panels have become cheaper more and more countries, companies, and individuals
are looking at solar power as a sustainable and accessible energy solution. It’s
even likely that you or someone you know has already installed a couple of
solar panels on their roof.
However,
not all solar panels are the same, and in recent years, perovskite solar panels
have gained a lot of momentum for their remarkable efficiency, low production
costs, and versatility. In this article, we will dive into the science behind
perovskite solar panels, their advantages, challenges, and the potential they
hold for revolutionizing the future of solar energy.
What is Perovskite?
Perovskite
can actually mean two things: a mineral and a crystal structure. The mineral
perovskite, also known as calcium titanium oxide (a bit of a mouthful), was
discovered in the Ural Mountains in Russia, by Gustav Rose, a German mineralogist,
in 1839.
However,
the thing that made perovskite stand out wasn’t the mineral itself but its
crystal and chemical structure. Here’s a quick chemistry lesson: The general
chemical formula for perovskite materials is ABX₃, where 'A' and 'B' are
cations of different sizes, and 'X' is an anion that bonds to both cations.
Even though
perovskite itself is a very common mineral found in nature, perovskite solar
panels don’t use it. Instead they rely on hybrid organic-inorganic lead or tin
halide based compounds such as Methylammonium Lead Iodide (MAPbI3) and Formamidinium
Lead Iodide (FAPbI3).
These
materials have unique optoelectronic properties that make them highly efficient
at converting sunlight into electricity.
What makes perovskite solar panels so efficient?
The working
principle behind perovskite solar panels is similar to that of other
photovoltaic technologies. When sunlight strikes the perovskite layer, it
excites electrons, creating electron-hole pairs. These are then separated and
collected at the electrodes, generating an electric current. The efficiency of
this process is influenced by the quality of the perovskite material, the
architecture of the solar cell, and how different layers interact between them.
So,
basically, when we talk about efficiency in solar panels, we are referring to
their ability to convert sunlight into electricity. Perovskite materials excel
in this regard due to their high absorption coefficient, which means they can
absorb a significant amount of sunlight even in thin layers. This allows
perovskite solar panels to be much thinner and lighter than traditional
silicon-based solar panels.
Which means
you can have a more efficient solar panel, with lower production costs, that
can not only be used on rooftops, but also in windows, balconies, cars and
other vehicles, and also in small or even wearable devices.
Imagine
having a small solar powered lightweight energy unit that you can take with you
when you go camping to power your devices. This technology could also be used
to power remote or impoverished areas with no access to the energy grid, by a
fraction of the cost of a regular solar panel.
But this
isn’t all that a perovskite solar panel can do. Perovskite materials can also
be easily tuned by varying their chemical composition, this means you can
optimize these materials for different light conditions and applications. For
instance, you can design perovskite solar panels to absorb a broader range of
the light spectrum to increase their overall energy efficiency.
You can
also combine perovskite solar cells with other photovoltaic materials, such as
silicon, to create a tandem solar cell. These tandem cells can achieve higher
efficiencies by capturing a wider range of the light spectrum.
Perovskite-silicon
tandem cells have already demonstrated efficiencies well above 29%, surpassing
the theoretical limit of single-junction silicon solar cells.
What about any downsides?
You may,
however, be asking yourself, if perovskite solar panels are so great, why aren’t
they being rolled out everywhere.
Well, in
spite of their many advantages, perovskite solar panels still face several
challenges that need to be addressed before they can be widely adopted.
One of the
main concerns with perovskite solar panels is their long-term stability.
Perovskite materials are sensitive to environmental factors such as moisture,
oxygen, and UV light, which can degrade their performance over time.
Researchers are actively working on developing more stable perovskite
formulations and encapsulation techniques to protect the cells from these
issues.
Another
problem is that most perovskite materials contain lead, which we all know can
be toxic. However, while the amount of lead used in perovskite solar panels is
relatively small, it might still have an impact on public health and the
environment, if they’re not properly disposed of and or recycled. To resolve
this issue, efforts are underway to develop lead-free perovskite materials,
such as those based on tin or other non-toxic elements.
Since this is
a new technology, most of the data we have on its performance has come from
testing in controlled laboratory settings. This means that scaling up
perovskite solar panels for commercial use might not yet be viable. Issues such
as uniformity, reproducibility, and the development of large-scale
manufacturing processes need to be addressed to ensure consistent performance
and reliability.
Perovskite solar cells have also reported efficiency losses associated with charge recombination, interface defects, and other factors that require more research to mitigate these issues and to improve their overall performance.
As we confront the pressing challenges of climate change and energy sustainability, perovskite solar cells emerge as a beacon of hope. Their unique properties and advantages could help unlock a new era of renewable energy, making solar power more efficient, accessible, and versatile than ever before.
As researchers continue to innovate and perfect this technology, we may soon find ourselves living in a world where access to clean, renewable energy is not just a long-term goal but a daily reality thanks, in part, to the remarkable capabilities of perovskite materials.
