University of Manchester Research Makes Solar Power More Affordable

Researchers at the University of Manchester find a way to accelerate the uptake of solar technology that will drive cost down.

12:21 18 February 2021

Scientists at the University of Manchester are helping make solar technology more affordable by increasing the environmental safety of perovskite solar cells, which can be mass produced through roll-to-roll processing.

 

Despite being inexpensive, the cells are not normally used in solar technology because they contain lead, a cumulative toxin. If the perovskite solar cells get damaged, lead ions may leak and could lead to potential environmental risks.

 

Professor Brian Saunders and Dr David Lewis have confirmed that they have devised a way to eliminate the lead from broken cells using a hydroxyapatite. The bioinspired mineral captures the lead ions in an inorganic matric preventing toxins from being released to the environment when the cells are damaged.

 

Professor Brian Saunders said: “Up until now, the substantial lead component in perovskite solar cells has been a potential environmental concern. If the solar cells are damaged, for example by hail, the ions may leak. By creating an in-device fail-safe system, we have devised a way to contain toxic ions in damaged perovskite cells. Through increasing the inherent safety of perovskite solar cells, we hope our research will provide a helping hand to the wider deployment of solar technology as we strive to achieve net zero CO2 emissions.”

 

“By creating an in-device fail-safe system, we have devised a way to contain toxic ions in damaged perovskite cells. Through increasing the inherent safety of perovskite solar cells, we hope our research will provide a helping hand to the wider deployment of solar technology as we strive to achieve net zero CO2 emissions.”

 

Dr David Lewis, Deputy Head of Department and Reader in Materials Chemistry, added, “We embarked on this research as we were committed to eliminating an environmental risk. That commitment has resulted in increasing both the sustainability and the efficiency of perovskite solar cells. We hope these dual outcomes will increase the viability for homes and businesses, worldwide, to host and use solar technology.”