Brown researchers aim to revolutionize solar energy

By: Rebecca Turco

Email: rturco@abc6.com

PROVIDENCE – Researchers at Brown University are looking to make the most out of the free energy we get from the sun.

“You’re basically harvesting sunlight with very minimal environmental cost,” explained Nitin Padture, professor in the School of Engineering and director of Brown’s Institute for Molecular and Nanoscale Innovation.

Padture is heading research on solar cells made from a type of crystal structure called perovskite. He explained solar cells made from perovskites “could be made at a fraction of the cost compared to the conventional solar cells.”

His team of students and faculty has been testing these cells under artificial light. These researchers found the cells are nearly as efficient in conducting electricity as silicon cells, which are used in solar panels. Plus, the perovskites are thinner. “It’s about a thousand times smaller than the thickness of your hair,” Padture explained.

Researchers feel that eventually, the possibilities could be endless with this type of technology. “In principal, you could wear them in your clothes and you can generate electricity while you’re walking and power your cell phone,” Padture said.

There is still a lot to be learned about these solar cells, though, so the research team is starting off small, then hopes to scale up. “We are working on processes and techniques that would eventually be scalable to larger size.”

The project is part of a $4 million grant from the National Science Foundation. Brown’s research team will be working on it over the next four years.

© WLNE-TV 2015