CSIRO researchers develop printed perovskite solar cell with 15.5% conversion efficiency

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
CSIRO principal research scientist Dr Doojin Vak
CSIRO’s roll-to-roll solar cell printing uses “specialised carbon inks, which further reduce production costs”, said principal research scientist Dr Doojin Vak. Image: CSIRO

Researchers from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) have developed a roll-to-roll printed solar cell with a power conversion efficiency as high as 15.5%.

The process involves printing perovskite solar cells onto thin plastic films, enabling cells to be “highly flexible and portable,” according to CSIRO. The organisation suggested that these printed cells could be used in urban construction, mining operations and personal electronics, where the large swathes of space required for large-scale silicon solar panel deployment are not available.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The research is the latest innovation in thin-film solar technology, following the development of “paper-thin” solar cells by MIT in December 2022. CSIRO’s research produced two operational cells, one with a conversion efficiency of 15.5% over “a small scale” and one with a conversion efficiency of 11% on a module measuring 50cm2, a record efficiency figure for a cell of this size.

“Roll-to-roll printing allows for the solar cells to be manufactured on very long, continuous rolls of plastic, which can dramatically increase the rate of production,” said Dr Anthony Chesman, CSIRO’s Renewable Energy Systems Group leader. “As these methods are already widely used in the printing industry, this makes their production more accessible for Australian manufacturers.

“The successful commercialisation of printed flexible solar cells has the potential to create significant economic and environmental benefits for Australia and the world.”

While the technology is a long way from commercial-scale production, Chesman’s emphasis on the potential for Australian-based manufacturing could be of benefit to the country’s solar sector as a whole. Earlier this year, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) set out a “credible pathway” to expand Australian solar manufacturing capacity, targeting 10GW of polysilicon purification capacity and 5GW of ingot, wafer, cell and module production capacity by 2030.

Australia is one of a number of countries that have invested more in domestic solar manufacturing, following the publication of figures from Wood Mackenzie that show that China is on track to hold over 80% of the world’s solar manufacturing capacity until 2026. Should Australia meet ARENA’s targets, China will still dominate global solar manufacturing, but the CSIRO researchers are optimistic that their latest work will offer benefits for solar manufacturing beyond sheer scale.

“Perovskites are a class of emerging solar cell material. They’re remarkable because they can be formulated into inks and used in industrial printers,” said CSIRO principal research scientist Dr Doojin Vak. “We’ve also alleviated the need to use expensive metals, such as gold, in their production by using specialised carbon inks, which further reduces production costs.”

Read Next

November 12, 2024
The New South Wales Independent Planning Commission (IPC) in Australia yesterday (11 November) granted approval for the 320MW Middlebrook solar-plus-storage project in Tamworth.
November 12, 2024
Plans to develop the Western Green Energy Hub (WGEH), a 70GW solar and wind mega-project, have progressed with the project having been submitted to Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
November 11, 2024
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has progressed a consumer-focused pricing review that was brought forward due to increasing household rooftop solar PV installation rates.
November 8, 2024
Danish renewable energy investment firm Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has launched a new Australian subsidiary, with eyes to deliver 6GW of new solar PV and wind energy in the next 10-years.
November 7, 2024
New South Wales, Australia, has secured the highest allocation of energy generation in the upcoming Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) tender, standing at 7.1GW.
November 7, 2024
Turkey has launched its latest solar tender, seeking 800MW of capacity to be split between six projects in six regions across the country.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
November 12, 2024
San Diego, USA
Solar Media Events, Upcoming Webinars
November 13, 2024
4pm GMT / 8am PST
Solar Media Events
November 19, 2024
Philadelphia, USA
Solar Media Events
November 20, 2024
Zhuhai, China
Solar Media Events
November 21, 2024
London, UK