Perovskite solar modules with a marble look

• In the laboratory, perovskite solar cells already reach effectiveness above 25 percent. Compared to silicon solar cells of similar effectiveness, the preliminary materials used in the former situation are more affordable and manufacturing methods are less complex. Until now, nonetheless, this has only been true on the little scale.

" Commercialization of this technology is still protected against by lacking stability of the modules and also the difficulty to move the high effectiveness gotten to on tiny to larger scales," claims tenure-track Professor Ulrich W. Paetzold from KIT's Institute of Microstructure Technology (IMT). However this is the prerequisite for the technology to result in the growth of affordable solar modules. The perspective is eye-catching, as most of such modules might be integrated in still extra parts of buildings, such as facades. For such usage, expenses and effectiveness contribute, as do the looks. For this reason, the team of Paetzold, in cooperation with industry partner SUNOVATION, researched an inkjet method to tint the perovskite solar modules. Its benefit: Tinting the modules by inkjet printing is low-cost and additionally matched for bigger surface areas.

Color impression is independent of incident light

The chosen technique has a 2nd major advantage: "Until now, color impression of tinted perovskite solar cells has actually been dependent on the angle of the incident light," task organizer Helge Eggers, IMT, explains. "With our method, the color is virtually independent of the angle of incident solar radiation and always looks the exact same," Eggers includes. In a big series of experiments, researchers proved that the method initially established for silicon solar modules can also be applied effectively to perovskite solar modules. Solar cells colored cyan, magenta, and also yellow reached up to 60 percent of the original efficiency when transforming solar energy right into power.

The 3rd benefit: As inkjet printing is used, colors can be mixed. This does not just result in a wide range of colors, but it is also feasible to print intricate color scheme. Researchers produced solar modules looking like different building materials. Perovskite solar modules with white marble optics reached a really high efficiency of approximately 14 percent. "In case of building-integrated photovoltaics, the photovoltaic or pv system will not be mounted on roofings or exteriors, but changed by a module. Consequently, extra costs are stayed clear of," Eggers claims. "For building-integrated photovoltaics it can be stated that an integrated solar cell of tiny efficiency is better than a wall surface supplying no power at all. In this respect, a performance of 14 percent is enormous."