UNSW researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of solar energy technology, using magnetic fields to reveal the process of singlet fission — a phenomenon that could significantly boost the efficiency of solar cells.
This innovative research, published in Nature Chemistry, sheds new light on how light particles (photons) split, potentially transforming the future of renewable energy.
Professor Tim Schmidt from UNSW Sydney’s School of Chemistry, who has been studying singlet fission for over a decade, led the research team.
The study focuses on understanding and potentially harnessing the process of singlet fission to improve existing silicon solar cell technologies.
Current solar cells lose a significant amount of absorbed light energy as heat, limiting their efficiency.
Singlet fission could address this issue by splitting high-energy photons into two lower-energy photons, allowing more of the solar spectrum to be utilised.
The researchers used magnetic fields in a novel way to observe and analyse the singlet fission process.
By manipulating the wavelengths of emitted light, they were able to reveal the mechanics of how singlet fission occurs — a feat that had not been achieved before.
Professor Ned Ekins-Daukes from UNSW’s School of Photovoltaics & Renewable Energy Engineering highlighted the importance of this research in the context of current solar cell technology.
While silicon solar cells have become increasingly affordable, they are approaching their fundamental efficiency limits.
The highest efficiency achieved so far is 27.3 per cent, with an absolute limit of 29.4 per cent.
The integration of singlet fission into silicon solar panels could push efficiencies beyond these limits.
By introducing a molecular layer that undergoes singlet fission, additional current could be supplied to the panel, potentially increasing efficiency above 30 per cent.
This research is part of a larger initiative supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), which aims to develop technologies capable of achieving greater than 30 per cent efficiency at a cost below 30 cents per watt by 2030.
The UNSW team is now poised to move from theoretical understanding to practical application.
They plan to create a prototype of an improved silicon solar cell and work with industrial partners to commercialise the technology.
This breakthrough could have far-reaching implications for the renewable energy sector, potentially accelerating the transition to more efficient and cost-effective solar power generation.
