YNU makes research achievements in optoelectronic energy materials

A software simulation image shows the Bell Tower of Yunnan University decorated with colored solar cells. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

Two research teams from Yunnan University (YNU) recently published a paper titled "Colorful Conducting Polymers for Vivid Solar Panels" in Nano Energy, receiving extensive attention.

The two teams are the silicon-based nano optoelectronic materials team of Professor Yang Yu, from the international joint research center for national optoelectronic energy materials of YNU, and the organic optoelectronic device team of Professor Lyu Zhenghong. YNU is the first communication unit of the paper.

Materials Today covered this research in a special report titled "Colorful Solar Panels Could Be on the Way." It says, "Chinese scientists demonstrate tunable polymers for use in photovoltaics" and that "Chinese researchers have found a way to make PV systems more eye-catching."

Silicon solar cells are devices that convert solar energy into electrical energy and have been widely used in photovoltaic technology and solar roofs. However, most of the silicon solar cell panels have a dim color, and architects generally believe that traditional photovoltaic panels are too "ugly" to be used in future urban buildings.

Due to this, it is necessary to develop colorful silicon-based solar cells that can be applied to residential buildings and other aesthetically demanding buildings.

The production process for colorful solar cells is different from standard solar cells. It does not require complex processes or additional functional layers to achieve multiple colors. Colorful solar cells can be combined with the mature silicon integration processes to develop low-cost and highly efficient solar cells that can meet the needs of aesthetic designs.

Yu Leiming, a doctoral candidate at the School of Physics and Astronomy of YNU, is the first author of the paper, and professors Yang and Lyu are coauthors.

The research project received funding from YNU, Yunling Scholars Foundation and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, among others.