KAIST Creates Highly Stretchable, High-Efficiency Solar Cells

• KAIST researchers create a breakthrough in solar energy: a stretchable solar cell that converts energy with 19% efficiency, even when stretched up to 40% - ideal for wearable devices.

A team from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) at KAIST has developed a high-efficiency, stretchable solar cell. By combining a highly stretchable polymer with an electrically conductive polymer with excellent electrical properties through chemical bonding, they developed a conductive polymer with both electrical conductivity and mechanical stretchability that meets the highest reported level of photovoltaic conversion efficiency (19%). The device can be stretched up to 40% during operation, and is applicable for wearable devices. The research was conducted by teams from KAIST's Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of CBE, and was published in Joule on December 1. It was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea.

What Efficiency Level Did KAIST's Stretchable Solar Cell Reach?

• The stretchable solar cell developed at KAIST achieved a photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 19%.
• The device can be stretched up to 40% during operation, making it applicable for wearable devices.
• The research was conducted by teams from KAIST's Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of CBE.
• It was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea.
• The research was published in Joule on December 1.
• The device is composed of a highly stretchable polymer and an electrically conductive polymer bonded together.