Physicists develop potential quantum computer interface
Researchers develop robotic ants with swarm intelligence

SHORT NEWS

Researchers create record-breaking flexible solar cell

#efficiency #flexible solar cell #photovoltaics

Never before have flexible solar cells been so efficient: A team from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) has created a flexible thin-film solar cell with a record-breaking efficiency of 20.8 percent.

Hand with blue gloves holding flexible solar cell

Flexible thin-film solar cells could make it possible to integrate photovoltaics into curved building façades or could be used as ultra-light energy sources on Zeppelins, electric aircraft, and drones. A team of scientists led by Ayodhya N. Tiwari from Empa is developing ultra-thin CIGS solar cells (copper indium gallium selenide) on flexible plastic foils that act as a substrate.

With the latest generation, they recently set an efficiency world record for flexible solar cells, Empa announced. The researchers were able to increase the efficiency to 20.8 percent, exceeding their own previous record of 20.4 percent. This puts them almost on a par with conventional silicon solar cells. On a rigid substrate, CIGS solar cells achieve an efficiency slightly in excess of 23 percent.

Extremely thin and lightweight

In addition to their flexibility, the CIGS solar cells developed by Romain Carron and his team from Empa offer the advantage of being extremely thin and lightweight. According to Romain Carron, the absorbing layer is only three to four micrometers thick, and the substrate approximately 35 micrometers. The cells weigh in at less than 100 grams per square meter.

As yet, the industrial production of flexible CIGS solar cells is still a hurdle, Romain Carron explained. “In the laboratory, we have so far only been able to produce squares of about five by five centimeters at a time.” The researchers intend to upscale this to enable commercialization. In the meantime, the ETH Zurich spin-off company Flisom is already marketing the first products based on this technology.

Written by: sda

Photos: keystone

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A hospital room in Zurich children's hospital

Researchers want to detect blood poisoning earlier using AI

With the help of artificial intelligence (AI) a research team at the University Children's Hospital in Zurich has defined new criteria for the diagnosis of blood poisoning. This could improve the early detection of this dangerous disease.
March 10th, 2024
plastic waste in a garbage bin

Microplastics could promote cancer

According to a new study, tiny plastic particles can be passed on during cell division. This could potentially favour the spread of cancer.
April 15th, 2024
a baby in a newborn ward

AI diagnoses heart defects in babies

An artificial intelligence (AI) developed by Zurich researchers recognises a specific heart defect in newborns. According to the researchers, it has the potential to reduce the number of missed diagnoses of pulmonary hypertension.
April 29th, 2024
the new robot can mimic the softness of materials

Robot reproduces the softness of materials

A new robot can precisely mimic the softness of various materials. In future, medical students could use it to practise detecting malignant tumours or researchers could feel the softness of an object in space.
May 6th, 2024
PEBE

Are CO2 absorbers the saviors of the climate crisis?

In the fight against climate change, gigatons of carbon dioxide will have to be removed from the atmosphere over the course of the century - using so-called carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies are giving people new hope.
June 12th, 2024
pedestrians at a zebra crossing

New car camera detects pedestrians 100 times faster

A new type of car camera recognises obstacles 100 times faster than previous driver assistance systems. In future, this technology should help to brake cars in good time if a pedestrian suddenly runs into the road.
August 5th, 2024
Pedestrians walk on planks across a flooded square in Switzerland.

Climate change causes global economy to shrink significantly

According to a new forecast, the global economy is at risk of shrinking by around a fifth by the middle of the century due to climate change.
August 19th, 2024