Solar panels could be printed like newspapers, according to new research from the University of Surrey.
The material needed, called perovskites, would replace conventional silicon solar cells due to their unique ability to be dissolved into an ink. However, this method relies on hazardous solvents in order to melt the substance down.
The Surrey research team produce their ink using less hazardous ingredients – removing the need for toxicity.
The researchers noted that producing 1GW of electricity from these perovskite modules can consume more than 90,000 litres of solvent on a single coating line, so cutting toxic solvents out of the ink also cuts out a health and environmental risk.
Dr Ehsan Rezaee, lead researcher of the study from the University of Surrey, said: “We are designing the chemistry of perovskite materials together with the manufacturing process, with industry in mind.
“For a technology to move from the laboratory into a real manufacturing environment, we need to consider not only performance, but also the solvents, processing conditions, safety, resource use and overall complexity of production.”
The new method also avoids the “anti-solvent” step that many perovskite recipes need, which typically introduces even more toxic materials. By skipping it and working at low temperature, the process uses less energy and fewer materials.
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