Layering the developed materials over standard silicon is a favourable path to extract more amount of solar energy, and researchers have been working to increase the efficiency of solar power through this process. As per a new study, multilayered solar panels have 1.5 times more potent than conventional ones. These panels can be produced by using an accurately managed fabrication process.
Silicon solar panels are popular because of their affordability and their potential to convert almost 20% of the sunlight into electricity. However, silicon solar cells also have some drawbacks attached to them, thereby instigating the researchers to work on increasing its efficiency to attract more and more energy consumers and providers.
As gallium arsenide, the semiconductor material, and silicon complement each other, the research team has been putting in efforts to layer both the materials. Both the materials carry the potential to consume visible light powerfully, but gallium arsenide has an upper-hand in the process as it does so without generating much heat.
While semiconductor materials like gallium arsenide phosphide are stable and efficient, they are quite expensive and, do not fall under the category of budget-friendly, so manufacturing panels entirely using those materials, especially for mass production, would be a complete loss. Hence, low-cost silicon is preferred by many researchers for their experiment purposes.
During the process of fabrication, material imperfections find their way into the surfaces, especially at interfaces in between the gallium arsenide phosphide and silicon. Tiny defects forms in case materials with the distinct atomic structure are surfaced onto silicon, reducing both reliability and performance. Every time one material is switched with another, a risk of producing some disorder in the transition process is formed.
The leading researcher of the study went on to develop a process to create pristine interfaces in the cells of gallium arsenide phosphide, which, in turn, enhanced the earlier work to a great extent. This technology can be used by a utility company to generate 1.5 times more energy. Energy providers are expected to understand the value in using these stabilized materials to enhance the level of performance, despite every obstacle faced in the journey to commercialization.