In a boon for the local solar industry a team of researchers from Swinburne University of Technology and Suntech Power Holdings have developed the world’s most efficient broadband nanoplasmonic solar cells.
In a paper published in Nano Letters the researchers describe how they have manufactured thin film solar cells with an absolute efficiency of 8.1 per cent.
The research was conducted under the auspices of the Victoria-Suntech Advanced Solar Facility (VSASF) at Swinburne a $12 million program jointly funded by the Victorian Government Swinburne and Suntech. The group is working to dramatically increase the efficiency of thin film solar technology.
According to Swinburne Professor Min Gu Director of the VSASF thin film cells have attracted enormous research interest as a cheap alternative to bulk crystalline silicon cells. However the significantly reduced thickness of their silicon layer makes it more difficult for them to absorb sunlight.
“Light trapping technology is of paramount importance to increase the performance of thin film solar cells and make them competitive with silicon cells” Professor Gu said. “One of the main potential applications of the technology will be to cover conventional glass enabling buildings and skyscrapers to be powered entirely by sunlight.”
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