Monash team shows solar window progress

Semi-transparent perovskite solar cells (ST-PeSCs) allow some visible light to pass through while also harvesting solar energy, raising the prospect of buildings like skyscrapers becoming self-powering. In combination with more conventional rooftop solar, window and wall photovoltaics could help bring Melbourne’s CBD buildings close to self-sustaining, according to one study that Monash was involved in.

Previous work by the ARC (Australian Research Centre) Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science had developed a perovskite cell prototype that allowed 10 per cent of visible light to pass through, while simultaneously achieving a 17 per cent power conversion efficiency. Non-transparent silicon rooftop cells generally operate at about 20 per cent efficiency.

Using a combination of caesium and formamidinium in the initial perovskite composition, the Monash team recently developed new formulations of cells, allowing 20.7 per cent and 52.4 per cent of light to pass, with respective power conversion efficiencies of 15.5 per cent and 4.1 per cent. While the power conversion rates are lower than previous prototypes, the amount of visible light is now approaching levels suited to glazing, bringing the prospect of functional solar glass closer to reality.