(Yicai) Oct. 16 -- Chinese scientists have developed a new type of perovskite solar cell that uses tin instead of toxic lead, eliminating environmental risks while boosting power conversion efficiency.

A team from Shanghai’s Fudan University developed the tin-based solar panel that has the highest-known power conversion efficiency level for such cells at 17.7 percent, according to a study published in UK science journal Nature yesterday. Before, tin-based cells struggled to reach 10 percent efficiency due to the metal’s unstable characteristics.

Perovskite solar cells are considered the next generation of photovoltaic panel, with a higher efficiency and lower production costs. However, this type of cell usually relies on lead which is harmful to people’s health, raising concerns about its large-scale application.

"Our goal was to create a solar cell that is truly green throughout its lifecycle," Liang Jia, co-author of the study, told Xinhua News Agency. Tin offers an ideal solution since it is abundant, safe, highly compatible with solar energy conversion and easy to manufacture at scale.

To address the instability of tin, Liang’s team redesigned the buried interface by introducing a molecular film to form a homogeneous interfacial layer with well-matched energy level alignment. This approach helps create a "superwetting" underlayer that guides the growth of uniform, high-quality tin-based perovskite films with reduced defect density, according to the study.

Looking ahead, this green PV technology is expected to be widely deployed in building-integrated photovoltaics, wearable energy devices, vehicle rooftops and off-grid clean-power systems, Xinhua said.

Editor: Kim Taylor