He first titanium solar panel has been presented to the world. It is 1000 times more powerful than expected and registers a strange effect. Even more surprising is the appearance of the red solar panel. Conventional solar panels are mainly composed of silicon, a semiconductor material.
These pieces consist of several interconnected photovoltaic cells, which form photovoltaic modules. The typical efficiency of solar panels currently on the market varies between 15 and 22%, depending on factors such as the quality of the panel, the technology used and the environmental conditions.
These figures encourage industry and science to look for ways to take advantage of the great room for improvement that photovoltaics still offers. With new technology coming to market to extend the reach of solar energy, installing traditional solar panels significantly reduces monthly electronic bills and dependence on the public electricity grid.
This energy independence protects the user against the increase in electricity costs and against the volatility of fuel prices. In addition, solar energy does not emit dangerous carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. An essential feature to slow climate change and prevent greater damage to the environment.
The first titanium solar panel arrives: it is 1000 times more powerful
A group of German researchers, specifically from the University Martin Luther Halle-Wittenberg (MLU)has created solar panels that are 1,000 times more efficient thanks to titanium. Their research shows that alternating titanium layers of barium, strontium and calcium in ferroelectric solar cells multiplies their effect by 1,000.
Likewise, they show that the photovoltaic effect of ferroelectric crystals can be much more impressive. The key to this technological advancement lies in periodically placing three different materials in a network, multiplying their effect by up to 1,000.
The study produced alternating crystal layers of barium titanium, strontium titanium and calcium titanium. These discoveries, published in the journal Scientific progressoffer sufficient potential to significantly improve the efficiency of solar cells.
Unlike silicon-based solar cells, whose efficiency is slightly more limited, ferroelectric crystals such as barium titanium offer significant advantages. These elements, which have specially separated positive and negative charges, make it possible to create electricity from light.
The research showed the alternation of a ferroelectric layer with two different paraelectric layers. This process multiplied the photovoltaic effect. This was achieved by embedding barium titanate between strontium titanate and calcium titanate, resulting in a material consisting of 500 layers with a thickness of 200 nanometers.
Ferroelectric measurements showed that this new element had a current strength up to 1000 times stronger than pure barium titanate of a comparable thickness, even though the proportion of barium titanate was reduced by almost two-thirds. This solid photoelectric effect remained constant over a period of six months, indicating its viability over a long period of time.
They present the first titanium solar panel: a strange effect is recorded
On the other hand, the demonstrated potential opens up new perspectives for practical applications in solar panels, as the layer structure shows higher performance in all temperature ranges and greater durability, without the need for special packaging. The “strange effect” we are talking about is its efficiency, higher than what the industry could have dreamed of for solar panels.
With overwhelming results, the first titanium solar panel makes history in a scenario still shocked by the emergence of the first octagonal solar panel producing infinite electricity.