3D printed system speeds up solar cell testing from hours to minutes

Testing new solar cell designs can now be done in hours instead of days, thanks to a new machine built by Australian scientists. The experts have created a 3D-printed system that can analyze 16 samples of perovskite-based cells simultaneously, speeding up the development process.

“Our new facility has the capacity to test thousands of solar cells in a single day, putting us ahead of virtually all other research and development labs around the world,” said one of the authors of the study, carried out by Monash University.

However, according to the researchers, these results are from laboratory tests on millimeter-sized samples under indoor conditions. Therefore, they do not consider the manufacturing process and possible deterioration over time.

“High-throughput experimental concepts will become increasingly important for discovering the next generation of energetic materials, fueling the transition to a carbon-neutral energy economy,” the study concluded.

Perovskite

The race to get the recipe right for perovskite solar cells is seen as critical to the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy generation. Experts say the Perovskite is a more efficient and cheaper alternative to silicon, currently used in photovoltaic systems. These solar cells already achieve an efficiency of 25,2% in converting light energy into electrical energy, surpassing the percentage of crystalline silicon cells.

According to Ana Flávia Nogueira, researcher at CINE (Center for Innovation in New Energies), silicon cells can only be manufactured in environments with high particulate control and require temperatures of over 1.500 °C. “Silicon-based solar panels are very expensive. That’s why in our laboratory, we are producing perovskite films from solutions, also called paints, at room temperature,” added Ana.