A revolutionary discovery by a team of researchers at Oxford University could radically change the way we capture solar energy. They have developed an extremely thin, flexible coating made from a mineral called perovskite that can be applied to buildings, cars and everyday objects, offering an alternative to traditional silicon panels.
The multi-layer solar cells created by the team of 40 researchers are not only as efficient as conventional panels, converting 27% of sunlight energy into electricity, but also much more versatile. At just one micron thick, these cells can be integrated into a variety of surfaces, paving the way for innovative applications such as cell phones that charge in real time or electric vehicles that recharge for free on the highway. Professor Henry Snaith, one of the brains behind the innovation, emphasized the need for wider government support to turn the technology into commercially viable solutions that can reduce costs and make solar power the most sustainable form of renewable energy.
