May 11, 2021 Share
Researchers are constantly thinking up new ways to improve solar cell technology. They’re figuring out what’s holding them back from achieving maximum efficiency and incorporating novel materials to enhance their performance. One of the latest in the latter is the use of carbon dots made from human hair waste sourced from a barbershop.
The dots form a kind of ‘armor’ that enhances the performance of perovskites solar cells – a relatively new photovoltaic technology seen as the best candidate to deliver highly efficient solar electricity at a low cost in coming years. The cutting-edge solar technology has proven to be as effective in power conversion efficiency as monocrystalline silicon solar cells (what’s currently commercially available). Plus, they’re made with a compound that’s easily manufactured (unlike silicon cells). Another bonus is that it’s flexible, so it can be used in clothing, tents, backpacks, and any other on-the-go d
Carbon Dots from Human Hair Waste Improve Stability, Performance of Solar Cells
Scientists from the
Image Credit: Queensland University of Technology.
The researchers have designed these carbon dots using human hair waste sourced from a barbershop in Brisbane.
The research team, headed by Professor Hongxia Wang in association with Associate Professor Prashant Sonar from QUT’s Centre for Materials Science, has demonstrated how the carbon nanodots can potentially be used to enhance the performance of perovskite solar cells. The study has been published in the
Journal of Materials Chemistry A.
Perovskite solar cells are a comparatively new photovoltaic technology and are regarded as the ideal PV candidate to supply highly efficient, low cost solar electricity in the days to come.