A considerable part of humanity is trying to follow the path of replacing non-renewable energy sources with renewable ones. Korean scientists from Incheon National University took a small step along this path - they created the first, according to them, completely transparent solar cell.
In a new study, Professor Joondong Kim describes a groundbreaking technique for the heterojunction layer of a solar cell. According to the study, the combination of nickel oxide and titanium dioxide semiconductors has created an efficient and completely transparent solar cell.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2), an efficient semiconductor, is currently used in solar cell technology. It is effective, non-toxic and environmentally friendly, and is also abundant on Earth. Nickel oxide (NiO), on the other hand, is also a semiconductor with high optical transparency characteristics. The combination of these two elements creates transparent solar panels that are both sustainable and easy to use.
Solar power (along with wind and water) has consistently been the highest hopes for the transition to renewable energy. Therefore, many scientists are working in this area. In recent years, solar energy has become more affordable and environmentally friendly, and the conversion rate of ultraviolet radiation to electricity is growing.
However, modern solar cells are limited in their daily use due to their opacity. Solar panels can only be seen on rooftops, in remote areas, and out of the public eye. Jundong Kim has high hopes for his research - according to the scientist, the unique properties of transparent photovoltaic cells open up a wide range of applications for them. In the future, fully transparent panels will be used in building windows and even in mobile phones. However, it is too early to talk about commercialization, since the energy conversion efficiency of the panels understudy was 2.1%.
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