- Scientists have created a new, high-efficient solar cell.
- It uses cheap tin instead of rare indium.
- 31% efficiency in lab tests, making the panels durable.
- This discovery will remove the challenge of dependence on indium.
Solar Panel Cost: Installing solar panels may soon become cheaper. Scientists have prepared a new type of high-efficiency solar cell. In this, tin can be used instead of Indium which is considered an expensive and rare metal. This will reduce the cost of making solar panels to a great extent. Another advantage of this is that it can be manufactured on a large scale. According to research published in Science Journal, this is the world’s first commercial size tandem solar cell, which can give excellent performance even without indium. This is being seen as the biggest development in the world of solar technology.
Solar panels will be ready at such low cost
Scientists have used tin oxide in the new solar cell. It is much cheaper than indium and is easily available. This will help in making future solar panels cheaper and this cell will also be more efficient. This means that future solar panels will be available at a lower price and will also generate more electricity. Tandem cells consist of two different light-absorbing materials, which capture sunlight of different spectrum and generate electricity.
How will the new technology work?
In the new technology, scientists have used a technique called Reactive Plasma Deposition. In this, a thin layer of tin oxide is added inside the solar cell. With this method, a huge increase was also seen in the efficiency of solar panels. The commercial-sized mini-module has shown an efficiency of 31 percent in lab tests. Scientists have also found that solar cells are more durable with the new method. There was no decline in their performance after heat, humidity and outdoor operation for about three months.
Will help in overcoming this challenge
Till now indium-based material was used to make tandem solar cells. Indium is also used in touchscreens, flat-panel displays and other electronic devices. However, it is a rare metal and its demand is continuously increasing. On the other hand, there has been a huge increase in the demand for solar panels. In such a situation, dependence on indium could create problems in future. Now new discovery can help in overcoming this challenge.
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