In the field of solar cells, peroxide materials are rapidly replacing silicon, but they have a major drawback—durability. Now, a new processing method has been shown to allow peroxide solar cells to retain 99% of their efficiency after 1000 hours of use.
Silicon solar cells may have had a lead for decades, but in just about 15 years, calcium peroxide is rapidly closing the gap. It is not only close to silicon in efficiency, but also cheaper, lighter, and more flexible.
However, there is, of course, a problem—peroxides tend to decompose when exposed to elements, which is not ideal for devices designed to operate under the sun all day, every day, for decades. Scientists have been experimenting with strengthening them by adding bulky molecules, two-dimensional additives, carbon nanodots or quantum dots made from hair, and other things.
Now, a team has used a new adhesive to protect peroxides. Called BondLynx, it was originally manufactured by the Canadian materials company XlynX for other applications and then tested on solar cells.
The problem with peroxides begins when the organic components in the material are activated by heat and light and can escape, weakening the peroxide and damaging other materials in the solar cell. BondLynx is a crosslinking agent that forms chemical covalent bonds with these organic components, preventing them from loosening and reducing efficiency.
The research team treated peroxide solar cells with BondLynx and then exposed them to prolonged heat and light to observe the difference in their performance compared to untreated solar cells. These solar cells started with an efficiency of 24% and retained almost 99% of their efficiency after 1000 hours of continuous exposure to simulated sunlight. In contrast, untreated solar cells lost 35% of their original efficiency over the same timeframe under the same conditions.
These solar cells were also exposed to a constant temperature of 60°C (140°F) for 600 hours. The BondLynx-treated cells successfully maintained nearly 98% efficiency during this period, while the control group lost 27%.
Although the tests have only been conducted for a few months, the treated cells have shown almost no loss of conversion efficiency, suggesting they should be able to withstand longer periods. Coupled with another recent coating estimated to extend the lifespan of peroxide solar cells to 30 years, this courageous new competitor may have overcome its fatal weakness and will soon challenge silicon's dominance in solar energy.
