Tiếng ViệtThe solar energy sector is entering a promising new era thanks to a breakthrough by a research team in Germany. By precisely stacking 500 ultra-thin crystalline layers of materials, they have fabricated a material capable of enhancing light absorption efficiency by a factor of 1,000 compared to existing technologies.
Solar Energy: The Future of the Global Power System
According to forecasts by the International Energy Agency (IEA), solar energy is projected to become the primary source of electricity by 2050, accounting for approximately one-third of global electricity production. However, to realize this vision, the efficiency of current photovoltaic panels must be significantly improved.
Conventional solar panels, which primarily utilize silicon, have reached the theoretical limits of light-to-electricity conversion efficiency. This has driven scientists worldwide to continually seek novel materials and structures to elevate the performance of this renewable energy technology.
Breakthrough with a 500-Layer Ultra-Thin Material Structure
In a study published in Science Advances, researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), Germany, introduced a novel material structure that has the potential to revolutionize the solar energy industry.
At the heart of this invention lies an ultra-thin crystalline structure composed of 500 precisely stacked material layers, with a total thickness of approximately 200 nanometers. The three primary materials employed are barium titanate (BaTiO₃), strontium titanate (SrTiO₃), and calcium titanate (CaTiO₃). These compounds are known for their ferroelectric or piezoelectric properties, enabling them to generate electricity upon exposure to light.
Distinct Advantages of Ferroelectric and Piezoelectric Materials
Unlike silicon, which requires a p-n junction to operate, ferroelectric crystals such as barium titanate possess the intrinsic ability to separate positive and negative charges without the need for complex structures. This endows them with the potential for easier fabrication and lower production costs. However, their drawback lies in a relatively limited light absorption capacity.
Notably, although the proportion of the primary photovoltaic material, barium titanate, is reduced by nearly two-thirds, the electrical output efficiency increases by up to 1,000 times compared to a single-layer material sample of equivalent thickness.
Currently, the research team at MLU is developing a prototype solar panel utilizing this 500-layer structure. If successful in the forthcoming expanded testing phase, this technology could be applied to commercial production within the next few years.
The German research team’s invention stands as a testament to perseverance and innovation in the field of renewable energy. By harnessing the abundant power of the sun, humanity has the opportunity to significantly reduce carbon emissions while moving closer to a fairer, greener, and more environmentally sustainable world for future generations.