The efficiency of solar panels is always in the object of study, and the only country capable of developing new advances is China. In fact, the company Longi has managed to have even a certificate of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the United States.
Short. The Chinese giant of the solar modules has achieved a new record in solar energy conversion efficiency, reaching 34.85% efficiency in a Perovskita solar cell in two terminal tandem. In this way, Longi has managed to exceed the previous 34.6% record held by Longi herself two years ago.
A key technical advance. To understand the feat, it is important to know the tandem design. This structure combines an upper cape of Perovskita and a lower crystalline silicon, allowing to capture different ranges of the solar spectrum. Through a technique called bilayer interface passive, two layers are introduced that improve the passage of electricity between both active layers. On the one hand, lithium fluoride (LIF) acts as a barrier against load losses. On the other, the ethylendiamium diyoduro (EDAI) fills the nanometric scale holes, ensuring a more efficient load extraction.
It’s not just about materials. The Chinese company has also redesigned the structure of the crystalline silicon, making the frontal surface more rough to facilitate the adhesion of the Perovskita and maintaining a standard texture in the rear to optimize the capture of infrared light. This texturing improves the absorption of light and, therefore, the efficiency of the panel.
Achievement is not less. Apart from overcoming its own record, the Chinese company has exceeded the so-called Shockley-Queisser limit. In other words, it has managed to exceed the maximum efficiency limit marked by 33.7% for a single union. However, tandem cells, which combine different materials such as Perovskita and silicon, can overcome this limit by taking advantage of a broader range of the solar spectrum from the theoretical aspect. For example, research has shown that Tandem cells can reach efficiencies greater than 40%, and theoretically, some configurations could reach up to 60%.
Institutional support. Thanks to the participation of the universities project such as Suzhou and Hong Kong (HKPU), together with the Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute, Longi has allowed Longi to improve their silicon hetero -union technology and optimize manufacturing processes, bringing Tandem technology closer to a more commercializable level.
The next challenge. Longi has shown that the solar efficiency roof remains a mobile objective. However, he will now have this laboratory technology to the mass market. The durability of tandem cells, production costs and industrial scalability will be key factors to determine whether this record becomes a commercial standard or another technical advance without immediate practical application.
Image | Pixabay
WorldOfSoftware | New record of efficiency of a solar panel thanks to the Perovskita. The “miraculous material” already exceeds the theoretical limit of conventional panels
