Researchers from Martin Luther University in Halle-Wittenberg, Germany found a way to increase the photovoltaic effect of ferroelectric crystals 1,000 times by arranging three different materials periodically in a lattice.
The effect was achieved by creating crystalline layers of barium titanate, strontium titanate and calcium titanate which were alternately placed on top of one another.
Unlike silicon, ferroelectric crystals do not require a so-called pn junction to create the photovoltaic effect. This makes the ferroelectric-based solar panels much easier to produce.
While it is still too early for commercial application, this discovery could lead to a substantial increase in the efficiency of solar panels and further lower the cost of solar energy.
As a result, we could get a lot more electricity from the same panel area cheaper, and the panels might continue producing electricity even in sub-optimal conditions, possibly including darkness.
Under those circumstances, it is not difficult to imagine a world where everything is electrified without the need to rely on batteries for energy storage. In such a world, our cars for example could run completely on solar power generated from the vehicle surface area, giving them unlimited range with zero charging.
What other opportunities do you see that super-efficient solar panels could provide? Please let us know in the comments below.