Scientists 3D-print color-tunable, transparent perovskite solar cells using polymer micropillars for BIPV.
Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have made a new breakthrough. Using 3D printing technology, they have created a perovskite solar cell that is both transparent and capable of flexibly changing color. This achievement holds the potential for future windows to generate electricity while also allowing their color to be changed according to preference.
Traditional semi-transparent solar cells often achieve light transmission by thinning the light-absorbing layer or altering the material, which sacrifices stability and efficiency. The team took a different approach. Without changing the chemical composition, they used inkjet printing technology to create precise arrays of polymer micropillars inside the cell. These micropillars act like microscopic "windows," allowing light to pass through, while the perovskite material fills the gaps between them to generate electricity.
By adjusting the spacing between the micropillars, the researchers could precisely control the cell's transparency, achieving a maximum visible light transmittance of approximately 35%. Even more ingeniously, by merely adjusting the thickness of an oxide film in the top electrode, they could make the cell reflect different colors ranging from purple to yellow, while maintaining an efficiency between 6% and 10%.
Beyond aesthetics, this 3D-printed structure also significantly enhanced the cell's durability. In bending and long-term illumination tests, cells with micropillars far outperformed traditional structures in terms of performance retention, demonstrating excellent flexibility and stability.
This research proves that the appearance and performance of solar cells can be co-designed. Combined with 3D printing technology, we may in the future produce lighter, more efficient, and highly customizable photovoltaic products, opening up new possibilities for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and flexible electronic devices.
