Researchers from the Research Center for New Generation Photovoltaics (RCNPV) in Taiwan have developed solid-state perovskite solar cells which can convert indoor light to power IoT sensors.
Research Center for New Generation Photovoltaics (RCNPV) director, Wu Chun-guey, said: "Power conversion for a perovskite solar cell with area of 0.0739 square cm is 23.7%, and the efficiency decreases to 20.9% for cell area of one square cm, 17.25% for 17.277 square cm, and 11.7% for 703 square cm".
A 40-square cm perovskite solar cell can convert indoor light, such as lighting by T5 fluorescent tubes or LED light bulbs, into power enough for use in a small electric fan or an LED lamp or charging a smartphone lithium battery, Wu said. RCNPV has published many technological papers concerning perovskite solar cells and also applied for patents, Wu noted.
Wu also said that research units in Taiwan are technologically able to make large modules of perovskite solar cells, but slightly lag behind internationally leading fellow units in power conversion efficiency. As materials used to package perovskite solar cells into PV modules currently rely on imports, the academic field in Taiwan is developing such materials, Wu indicated. In addition, perovskite solar cells contain little lead of which the volume is lower than an environmentally allowable level, but academic organizations and enterprises in Taiwan should make efforts to develop lead-free perovskite solar cells, Wu noted.
