Ultra-thin solar cells: A turning point for the future of renewable energy

DNVN - International scientists have successfully developed an ultra-thin solar cell that can reflect light, helping to increase energy conversion efficiency and reduce production costs. This new technology is considered an important step towards a generation of solar cells that are light, flexible and easy to mass produce.

A research team at the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) has just announced the results of a groundbreaking research in the field of renewable energy by creating a high-efficiency ultra-thin solar cell. Compared to conventional technology, the new cell not only consumes less material but can also be produced faster and cheaper, while also providing flexible application in many fields.

Ultra-thin solar cell breakthrough: lighter, cheaper and more powerful.

According to the research team, ultra-thin solar panels are inherently limited by their poor ability to absorb light, causing solar energy to “leak” out the back and reduce the efficiency of power conversion. To overcome this problem, INL scientists in collaboration with Uppsala University (Sweden), led by Pedro Salomé, created a type of “nanostructured mirror” attached to the back of the solar cell.

This design uses a thin layer of nano-patterned gold coated with aluminum oxide, which acts as a mirror to reflect light back to the photovoltaic cell, allowing the light to be absorbed a second time. The aluminum oxide layer also helps reduce power loss on the back surface, preventing electrons from recombining, thereby limiting energy waste.

Instead of using a complex and expensive manufacturing process, the team applied a one-step nanolithography technique, which shortens the fabrication time and increases the ability to scale up to an industrial scale. In testing with an ultra-thin ACIGS (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se₂) photovoltaic cell, the cell's efficiency increased by about 1.5%, thanks to a significantly improved light absorption ability.

The team also found that the battery worked best at 450°C, a temperature that prevented the diffusion of gold atoms – a factor that had caused performance degradation in previous models.

According to the INL team, the new design simultaneously solves two key challenges: light management and energy loss reduction. This gives the ultra-thin solar cell the potential for a wide range of practical applications, from electric vehicles to buildings to portable electronic devices.

Researchers say the invention opens up a new direction for solar energy technology - combining high efficiency, low cost and flexibility. This is expected to be an important stepping stone in the process of mass producing ultra-thin solar cells, promoting the development of the global renewable energy industry.

Nguyen Bach

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/cong-nghe/pin-mat-troi-sieu-mong-buoc-ngoat-cho-nang-luong-tai-tao-tuong-lai/20251014102208238