Perovskite Solar Cell - A Source of Renewable Green Power

The earth receives 2.9X10 15 kW of energy every day in the form of electromagnetic radiation from the sun, which is about one hundred times the total energy consumption of the world in a year. Bell Telephone Laboratories produced a silicon solar cell in 1954 with an efficiency of 4% efficiency which later enhanced to achieve 11%. The cost of generation of one watt of solar power in 1977 was $77/watt which was later brought down to about 80 cents/watt. Recently a new substance called a perovskite used for solar cell preparation could cut the cost of a watt of solar generating capacity by three-quarters. The potential of this material that it could lead to solar panels that cost just 10 to 20 cents per watt has been presented. The characteristics of Perovskite, a calcium titanium oxide mineral species composed of calcium titanate. Perovskites solar cells first tried in 2009 converted about 3.5 percent of the energy in sunlight into electricity. PV device have already achieved 15% efficiency and aiming for higher efficiency upto 20% has been discussed. Based on organic-inorganic perovskite-structured semiconductors, the most common of which is the triiodide (CH3NH3PbI 3), these perovskites tend to have high charge- carrier mobilities. The flexible transparent panel made from cultured colored perovskite proved that future solar cells can be beautiful facades with architectural designs for the building in addition to generating power required for the buildings. Further one could charge the car battery when parked in sun and will soon become the reality with flexible solar cell painted on car roof and other surfaces. The perovskite material is dirt-cheap and has a bright future in solar cell industry for renewable energy generation.