Why Inkjet Printed Perovskite Solar Cells Could Soon Power Your Devices
Source PublicationAdvanced Science
Primary AuthorsDangudubiyyam, Pesch, Karakaya et al.
Imagine a future where solar panels are printed as cleanly and efficiently as the pages of a book. By the time you graduate college, sustainable energy manufacturing could be scaled up in ways we are only just beginning to design in laboratory environments.
These results were observed under controlled laboratory conditions, so real-world performance may differ.
The Rise of Inkjet Printed Perovskite Solar Cells
As we look to scale up solar energy, scientists have turned to perovskites as a highly efficient option for printing solar cells. However, printing them has historically required toxic, carcinogenic solvents that present severe industrial safety hazards during the manufacturing process.
To solve this, researchers formulated a green, biomass-derived solvent system using γ-valerolactone and dimethyl sulfoxide. In lab-scale tests, this new ink allowed them to produce high-performance inkjet printed perovskite solar cells using a process entirely free of carcinogenic and highly hazardous solvent components.
The Career Path to Green Energy
The study measured single-junction cell efficiency at over 17%, and tandem silicon-perovskite cells at over 28% efficiency. These measurements suggest that this green-solvent printing method can match the high performance of older, hazardous solvent-based formulations.
As this technology scales, the energy industry will require a new generation of specialists. To prepare for these future careers, focus on building these foundational skills:
- Chemistry: To formulate stable, non-toxic solar inks.
- Computer Science: To programme and calibrate precision industrial printers.
- Materials Engineering: To design flexible substrates that absorb light efficiently.