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Researchers at Lehigh University in the US have created a groundbreaking solar panel that is almost twice as efficient as regular ones. They achieved this by using quantum material.
They measured the solar panel’s efficiency using external quantum efficiency (EQE). Normally, solar panels made of silicon can reach an EQE of 100%. However, this new panel from Lehigh University reached an impressive EQE of 190%.
Chinedu Ekuma, the lead researcher and a physics professor at Lehigh University, said this is a big step forward for clean energy. Their findings were published in a journal called Science Advances.
The team achieved this breakthrough by carefully inserting tiny copper atoms into the quantum material, which is the active layer of the solar cell.
Even though the technical details might be hard to understand, this breakthrough could have a huge impact. Better solar technology could help us use less fossil fuels, reduce air pollution, and fight climate change.
What’s more, doubling solar panel efficiency could solve a big problem: the need for lots of space. With this new technology, we could produce the same amount of energy using half the space, which could change how we use solar power.
Professor Ekuma says we still need more research to make this technology practical, but he’s excited about its potential.