Australian researchers make eco-friendly solar cell breakthrough

Australian scientists have achieved a breakthrough in solar cell efficiency by using eco-friendly perovskite technology, the University of Queensland (UQ) said on Wednesday.

The scientists' team developed a tin halide perovskite (THP) solar cell that achieved a certified efficiency of 16.65 percent, nearly one percentage point higher than the previous global best for THP cells, contributing to the progress of cost-effective renewable energy technology, said a UQ statement.

"It might not seem like much, but this is a giant leap in a field that is renowned for delicate and incremental progress," said team leader Wang Lianzhou, adding their THP cell matches the efficiency of many commercial silicon-based cells but with the potential to be cheaper, faster and more sustainable to produce.

The breakthrough was achieved through collaboration between UQ's School of Chemical Engineering and the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology.

Team member He Dongxu highlighted THP's sustainability advantages, noting that the technology replaces toxic lead, common in most perovskite solar cells, with safer tin, which makes THPs better suited for residential use.

Previous challenges with THP efficiency stemmed from poor-quality crystalline films. The team overcame this by incorporating cesium ions to enhance film structure and reduce defects, according to researcher Chen Peng.

Wang believes the improved THP cells could become ideal for household solar panels, both indoors and outdoors.

"We could eventually see THPs used for engineering challenges, including as a lightweight solution to power electric aircraft – the sky really is the limit," Wang said.

(Cover: The solar panel farm in Batchelor, Australia, April 13, 2025. /VCG)