Scientists from the UK, China, and Switzerland have created a new type of solar panel that can generate electricity even in artificial light. They can also be "tuned" to specific light spectra, making them ideal for powering small devices like remote controls and sensors.
To create the new panels, the team of engineers used perovskite. The main problem with this material is tiny defects in the crystal lattice, called "traps." These interfere with the current flow and accelerate the material's degradation. To reduce these defects, the scientists used a combination of three chemical additives, including rubidium chloride, which ensured more uniform crystal growth with minimal deformation.
In the lab, the new photovoltaic cells demonstrated record efficiency—37.6% of the light in a room (at an illumination temperature of 1000 lux) was converted into electricity. They also maintained 92% of their productivity after 100 days of operation. Even after 300 hours of testing at high temperatures (55°C) and strong light conditions, the new panels retained 76% of their power, while the efficiency of simpler perovskite cells dropped to 47%.
Developers believe these panels will be able to operate for at least five years and be inexpensive to produce. Now, the team is in talks with partners for expansion and commercial launch.
