NTU Researchers Create Near-Invisible Solar Cells

Researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore have developed ultra-thin, near-invisible perovskite solar cells capable of generating electricity from glass surfaces.

This development allows everyday objects like building windows and vehicle sunroofs to harvest sunlight without blocking the view. By integrating power generation into existing infrastructure, the technology provides a lightweight and flexible energy source that does not compromise transparency.

Associate Professor Annalisa Bruno, from the School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences and the School of Materials Science & Engineering at NTU, led the research. The resulting cells are 10,000 times thinner than a human hair ^[1]. This extreme thinness is achieved through absorber layers that measure only tens of nanometers ^[2].

Perovskite materials are used to create these cells because they can be tuned to absorb specific parts of the light spectrum. This allows the cells to remain transparent to the human eye while still capturing enough energy to produce power. The team designed the cells to be integrated directly into windows and other surfaces to maximize energy collection in urban environments.

While NTU has pioneered this specific application, other institutions are exploring similar paths. Researchers at Oxford University's physics department are also pursuing ultra-thin solar cell technology to achieve similar goals of transparency and efficiency.

The NTU team focused on the balance between light transmission and energy conversion. By reducing the thickness of the absorber layer to the ultimate limit, they minimized the amount of light absorbed by the cell, which maintains the clarity of the glass while still allowing for electrical current generation.