A bifacial perovskite solar cell, which allows sunlight to reach both sides of the device, holds the potential to produce higher energy yields at lower overall costs, according to scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The dual nature of a bifacial solar cell enables the capture of direct sunlight on the front and the capture of reflected sunlight on the back, allowing this type of device to outperform its monofacial counterparts.
"This perovskite cell can operate very effectively from either side," said Kai Zhu, a senior scientist in the Chemistry and Nanoscience Center at NREL and lead author of a new paper published in the journal Joule: "Highly efficient bifacial single-junction perovskite solar cells." His co-authors from NREL are Qi Jiang, Rosemary Bramante, Paul Ndione, Robert Tirawat, and Joseph Berry. Other co-authors are from the University of Toledo.
Past bifacial perovskite solar cell research has yielded devices considered inadequate in comparison to monofacial cells, which have a current record of 26% efficiency. Ideally, the NREL researchers noted, a bifacial cell should have a front-side efficiency close to the best-performing monofacial cell and a similar back-side efficiency.
The researchers were able to make a solar cell where the efficiency under illumination from both sides are close together. The lab-measured efficiency of the front illumination reached above 23%. From the back illumination, the efficiency was about 91%-93% of the front.
Before constructing the cell, researchers relied on optical and electrical simulations to determine the necessary thickness. The perovskite layer on the front of the cell had to be sufficiently thick to absorb most of the photons from a certain part of the solar spectrum, but a perovskite layer that is too thick can block the photons. On the back of the cell, the NREL team had to determine the ideal thickness of the rear electrode to minimize resistive loss.
According to Zhu, simulations guided the design of the bifacial cell, and without that assistance the researchers would have had to experimentally produce cell after cell to determine the ideal thickness. They found the ideal thickness for a perovskite layer is around 850 nanometers. By comparison, a human hair is approximately 70,000 nanometers.
To evaluate the efficiency gained through bifacial illumination, the researchers placed the cell between two solar simulators. Direct light was aimed at the front side, while the back side received reflected light. The efficiency of the cell climbed as the ratio of reflected light to the front illumination increased.
While researchers estimate that a bifacial perovskite solar module would cost more to manufacture than a monofacial module, over time bifacial modules could end up being better financial investments because they generate 10%-20% more power.
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office funded the research.
NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC.
Research Report:Highly efficient bifacial single-junction perovskite solar cells
Artificial Intelligence Analysis
Defense Industry Analyst:
A defense industry analyst may find this article relevant because it discusses the potential of bifacial perovskite solar cells to improve energy efficiency in the defense sector. The article notes that the dual nature of these cells makes them ideal for capturing direct and reflected sunlight, making them more efficient than monofacial cells. The primary audience for a defense industry analyst would be defense industry stakeholders, such as military personnel, defense contractors, and defense-related government agencies.
Stock Market Analyst:
A stock market analyst may find this article relevant because it highlights the potential of bifacial perovskite solar cells to improve energy efficiency, which could lead to lower costs and higher returns for investors. The primary audience for a stock market analyst would be investors, financial advisors, and other stock market stakeholders.
General Industry Analyst:
A general industry analyst may find this article relevant because it discusses the potential of bifacial perovskite solar cells to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs in various industries. The primary audience for a general industry analyst would be industry stakeholders, such as manufacturers, suppliers, and industry professionals.
Analyst Summary
: The article discusses the potential of bifacial perovskite solar cells to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs in various industries. The dual nature of these cells allows them to capture direct and reflected sunlight, making them more efficient than monofacial cells. The researchers achieved a front-side efficiency of more than 23 percent and a back-side efficiency of 93 percent of the front-side, indicating potential for these cells to outperform monofacial cells. This research could have significant implications for the defense, stock market, and general industry sectors, and could lead to lower costs and higher energy yields.Comparison to Significant Events and Trends in the Space and Defense Industry Over the Past 25 Years: This articles discussion of bifacial perovskite solar cells can be compared to the growing trend of space exploration and defense technology over the past 25 years. In the last 25 years, there has been a significant increase in the use of renewable energy sources, as well as the development of new technologies to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs. The research discussed in this article is an example of this trend, as it demonstrates the potential of bifacial perovskite solar cells to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.Investigative
Question:
- 1. What are the potential implications of this research on the defense, stock market, and general industry sectors?
- 2. How does this research compare to previous research in the space and defense industry?
- 3.
What additional research is needed to further understand the potential of bifacial perovskite solar cells?4. How does this research impact the use of renewable energy sources?
5. What are the potential long-term implications of this research?
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