Wednesday, May 07, 2014: Researchers at University of Oxford have had quite the eureka moment of sorts. In a bid to develop high-efficiency solar cells at a nominal cost, the researchers have found that replacing the traditionally used lead (lead halide perovskites) with tin can do the trick for the betterment of mankind.
The researchers have now developed solar cells using the trick. The newly developed Perovskite solar cells deliver 17 per cent efficiency while converting solar energy into electricity, claim the researchers. The major advantage of using tin is that it’s also much safer and abundantly available in comparison to lead. According to lead researcher, Henry Snaith, tin-based Perovskite solar cells open up greater avenues for solar energy utilisation as also lead scientists to look for other alternatives to further lower costs.
As is obvious with any research, the scientists faced a number of challenges while working with the prototype solar cell. The most critical of these challenges is that the lead-free material is accustomed to degradation in the presence of oxygen and moisture. To limit the same, the researchers prepared the tin-based solar cell in a sealed nitrogen atmosphere.
