Solar cell emits own light source

An overachieving material known as Perovskite could act as a solar cell by day, light source by night, scientists have found.

Image: NTU

In an exciting solar breakthrough, scientists have discovered that a material known as Perovskite is not only capable of converting sunlight into electricity, it also emits its own light source.
The discovery was published in Nature Materials this week, and could lead to shop front signs, lamps and even mobile devices and tablets that soak up power from the Sun during the day and then light up at night.
The researchers from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore found that Perovskite, which was already one of the most promising materials for creating high-efficiency, cheap solar cells, is also highly suited for making lasers of different frequencies. The material is five times cheaper than current silicon-based solar cells.
In a press release, physicist Sum Tze Chien explained that he made the disovery by chance when he asked his postdoc Xing Guichuan to shine a laser on a new hybrid Perovskite solar cells they're currently developing and they started glowing brightly.
The release explains:
“By tuning the composition of the material, we can make it emit a wide range of colours, which also makes it suitable as a light emitting device, such as flat screen displays.”
Who else is excited?

Source: Nanyang Technological University