New perovskite cells enable electricity generation from solar panels even in bad weather.
New perovskite cells could revolutionize the production of electricity from renewable sources. The new solar panels could achieve high efficiency not only on sunny days, but also in rainy weather. An innovative concept from researchers could transform solar panels into electricity generators that function practically independently of the weather.
Perovskites were expected to disrupt the solar panel market, but that hasn’t fully materialized yet. However, scientists continue to work on improving the technology and are presenting interesting solutions. One such solution is detailed in the scientific journal Nano Energy. It involves a project for a new generation of perovskite panels that will generate electricity not only from solar energy, but also from rain – specifically, from the vibrations caused by raindrops hitting the panel.
The research team developed a solution centered around an additional nanolayer applied to existing perovskite solar cell technology. This layer serves three key functions: protecting the cells from external influences and preventing chemical degradation, improving light absorption and – most notably – capturing energy from the kinetic forces generated when raindrops impact the panel.
ilustračná snímka Source: istock
This phenomenon is related to the so-called triboelectric effect, where physical deformation of a material is converted into electrical current. Changes in the distances between points of an object are converted into electrical potential. While this interaction doesn’t generate a large amount of energy – only a few milliwatts per square centimeter of panel – it represents a significant contribution considering the energy losses during rain on conventional panels.
Offsetting Losses
Even a small amount of generated energy could partially compensate for these losses and simultaneously power very energy-efficient devices, the number of which is expected to grow. The utilize of the nanolayer is also important from the perspective of conventional perovskite solar cell production. Perovskite cells have great potential, but a serious drawback is their shorter lifespan compared to traditional silicon cells.
This research project could extend the lifespan of perovskite panels while also increasing their efficiency by utilizing energy from rain.
