Researchers at the Johannes Kepler University Linz have developed a new technology aimed at providing autonomous energy, which is crucial for long-term independent operation of power systems both on Earth and in space.
Current conventional energy solutions such as batteries, fossil fuels and other alternative energy generation methods have their limitations. These include their size, stationary charging requirements, negative environmental impact or low energy density.
However, ultra-thin and flexible solar cells made of a new material called “perovskite” have been found to be an efficient and lightweight solution for generating self-sufficient energy over long periods of time.
Researchers at JKU (Department of Soft Matter Physics and LIT Soft Materials Laboratory) have developed ultralight quasi-2D perovskite solar cells with an unprecedented power output of up to 44 watts per gram with a high level of stability.
Researchers have tested ultra-thin solar cells in a small quadcopter. Credit: JKU
“Ultra-thin and lightweight solar cells not only have great potential to revolutionize power generation in the aerospace industry, but there are a wide range of applications that could benefit from this new opportunity, including wearable electronics and the Internet of Things.” technology,” said Christoph Putz, one of the study’s lead authors. “Lightweight, adaptable and highly efficient photovoltaics are key to the development of the next generation of self-sufficient energy systems.”
The new ultralight and flexible solar cell module is only 20 times thinner than a human hair and can power a wide range of electronics in bright areas. The solar cells are less than 2.5 micrometers thick and are made from a quasi-2D perovskite material with an impressive 20.1% efficiency.
In addition, these cells have a high degree of flexibility and a remarkable power density of 44 W/g, which is much higher than other solar cell technologies.
Scientists installed a ring-shaped array of 24 cells on the drone. Credit: JKU
Creating a reliable and durable solar cell that is both flexible and lightweight requires a balance between low gas and moisture permeability, transparent plastic substrates, and robust photovoltaic materials. By applying a transparent aluminum oxide layer to the thin film and then optimizing the solar cell material, the operational stability of the cells was significantly improved.
To demonstrate the capabilities of the new technology, the researchers integrated ultra-lightweight solar cells into a commercially available CX10 miniature quadcopter. 24 of these cells are mounted on the frame of the drone, which is only 1/400 of its total weight. With this configuration, the drone was able to perform consecutive charge-flight-charge cycles without wired charging, making it highly stable and efficient.
The new technology could potentially be used in search and rescue operations, large-scale mapping, solar power generation in space and solar system exploration. Self-sustaining solar-powered aviation could be a game-changer for space exploration and research. Recently, the Ingenuity Mars helicopter impressively demonstrated the importance of self-sustaining solar-powered aviation by becoming the first aircraft to successfully take off from Earth and land on another planet.
Journal reference:
Bekele Hailegnaw, Stepan Demchyshyn, Christoph Putz, Lukas E. Lehner, Felix Mayr, David Schiller, Roland Pruckner, Munise Cobet, Dorian Ziss, Tobias Maria Krieger, Armando Rastelli, Niyazi Serdar Sariciftci, Markus Clark Scharber & Martins Clark Scharberner. Flexible quasi-2D perovskite solar cells with high specific power and improved stability for energy-autonomous drones. Nature Energy, 2024; DOI: 10.1038/s41560-024-01500-2