Singapore Develops a New Generation of Luminescent Solar Cell Materials

     For those interested in investment immigration to Singapore, pay attention to life in Singapore: One day in the future, when your phone or computer runs out of battery, you will simply need to place it in the sun to continue using it, as their displays will also function as solar cells. This is the latest achievement published by scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in the journal Nature Materials, where they have developed a new generation of solar cell materials that not only convert light into electricity but can also emit different colors of light as needed.

 

 

The materials used to develop these solar cells are derived from perovskite, a key material for manufacturing efficient and inexpensive solar cells. According to a report by the American Institute of Physics on March 25, postdoctoral researcher Xing Guichuan (phonetic) from the School of Physics and Materials Science at Nanyang Technological University discovered that the hybrid perovskite solar cell materials they were studying emitted bright light when exposed to laser irradiation. This was surprising, as most solar cell materials have a strong ability to absorb light and do not emit it.

Researchers stated that this material has a strong tolerance to light exposure. It can capture photons and convert them into electricity, or vice versa. By adjusting the composition of the material, it can emit various colors of light, making it suitable for use in luminescent devices such as flat panel displays.

Another researcher, Associate Professor Nippon Matthew from the School of Materials Science and Engineering, mentioned that this material can be easily applied in industry using existing technology. Due to its solubility during the manufacturing process, it can combine with two or more chemicals at room temperature, making it five times cheaper than current silicon-based solar cells.

"As a solar cell material, it can be made semi-transparent and installed as colored glass in windows, allowing it to generate electricity from sunlight. Its luminescent properties can also be utilized for decorative lighting in shopping malls or offices," Matthew said. "This material is multifunctional and low-cost, promoting environmentally friendly buildings. We are currently researching how to scale up the use of these materials for large solar cells, and changing the manufacturing process for luminescent devices is a direct approach. More importantly, this material has the ability to respond to laser irradiation, which is significant for the development of chip electronic devices."

Currently, this advanced material is in the process of applying for a patent. Professor Ramamurthy Ramnath from the University of California, Berkeley, stated: "The research results from this group clearly demonstrate that the new material has broad application prospects, including existing solar cells and lasers."