An international research team, spearheaded by Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, has announced a significant breakthrough in renewable energy, achieving a record 11% efficiency for fully roll-to-roll printed, flexible perovskite solar cells on 50 cm² large-scale panels. This advancement, detailed in a recent publication, marks a critical step towards the commercialization of lightweight, versatile solar technology, moving beyond the traditional laboratory scale to industrially viable production methods. Individual small-area cells demonstrated even higher efficiencies, reaching up to 15.5%. This achievement underscores the rapidly advancing capabilities in printed solar technology, where high production yields, sometimes approaching 95% for related organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules, are becoming increasingly feasible.
This development is particularly noteworthy as it addresses the long-standing challenge of scaling up printed solar cell production while maintaining high efficiency, an area where many prior efforts only yielded 1-2% efficiency for fully printed flexible solar panels.
Perovskite: The Flexible Future of Solar
Perovskite materials have emerged as a frontrunner in next-generation solar technology due to their remarkable power conversion efficiencies and suitability for low-cost, flexible manufacturing processes. Unlike rigid silicon panels, perovskite can be formulated into inks and printed onto thin, flexible substrates, enabling solar cells that are lightweight, portable, and adaptable to various surfaces. This inherent flexibility opens doors for deployment in previously unimaginable ways, from integrating into buildings and vehicles to powering wearables and remote infrastructure.
The Roll-to-Roll Revolution in Solar Manufacturing
The “roll-to-roll” printing technique is a continuous manufacturing process, akin to how newspapers are printed, where successive layers of materials are applied to a roll of film. This method is crucial for reducing production costs and dramatically increasing the manufacturing rate of solar cells. The ability to produce solar cells on very long, continuous rolls of plastic makes the technology more accessible for large-scale manufacturing.
CSIRO’s Breakthrough: Precision and Automated Production
The international team, involving researchers from CSIRO, the University of Cambridge, Monash University, the University of Sydney, and the University of New South Wales, focused on overcoming engineering hurdles to achieve record results over a large surface area of interconnected modules. A key aspect of their success was the development of automated fabrication and screening systems capable of producing and testing more than 10,000 solar cells per day. This high-throughput experimentation allowed the researchers to quickly identify optimal settings for various parameters in the roll-to-roll process, leading to a substantial increase in efficiency outcomes.
The researchers also innovated by replacing conventional vacuum-based metal electrodes with perovskite-compatible printed carbon electrodes, further streamlining the roll-to-roll process and lowering manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for expensive materials like gold.
Expanding the Boundaries of Solar Energy Applications
The thin, lightweight, and flexible nature of these newly developed perovskite solar cells means they can be deployed in diverse applications where traditional silicon panels are impractical. Potential uses span:
- Urban Construction: Seamless integration into building facades and infrastructure.
- Remote and Emergency Management: Providing power in disaster relief areas or off-grid locations.
- Defense and Space Exploration: Lightweight power sources for military applications and satellites.
- Agriculture and Mining: Flexible power solutions in remote operational areas.
- Wearable Electronics: Integrating solar cells into clothing or other personal devices.
This technology promises a shorter energy payback time and projected low costs, positioning it as an economical and environmentally attractive renewable energy solution.
Path to Commercialization
CSIRO emphasizes that this achievement is the culmination of over a decade of dedicated research and development. The agency is now actively seeking industry partners to further develop and commercialize this innovative technology, aiming to transition it from the lab to real-world applications. The successful commercialization of printed flexible solar cells is expected to deliver significant economic and environmental benefits globally. While challenges remain, such as long-term stability in various environmental conditions, the rapid progress in efficiency and scalable manufacturing techniques signals a bright future for flexible perovskite solar cells.
