Researchers come together for next-generation solar cells

Young researchers from various countries, gathered at the Ege University Solar Energy Institute, have rolled up their sleeves to produce next-generation solar cells.

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Researchers come together for next-generation solar cells

Environmental problems caused by fossil fuels have increased the search for clean energy sources. Solar cell systems, which generate electricity from solar energy—one of the leading sources—are envisioned as the important energy production systems of the future.

In this context, a project was prepared under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Şule Erten Ela, a faculty member at the Ege University Solar Energy Institute's Department of Energy, who works in the field of solar cells, also known as "solar cells," in a Turkey-Italy partnership.

The "Electrochemical Green Hydrogen and Oxygen Production" project, to which Prof. Dr. Alberto Vomiero, who conducts studies in this field in Italy, contributes, was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) as well as the Italian National Research Council.

The studies conducted at the Ege University Solar Energy Institute involve researchers, as well as master's and doctoral students, from Japan, Scotland, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Iraq.

Scientists are working in İzmir to produce perovskite solar cells using new techniques and materials.

PEROVSKITE SOLAR CELLS

Prof. Dr. Şule Erten Ela stated that solar cells used to generate electricity from the sun are divided into three categories.

Pointing out that the first generation consists of silicon and the second generation of thin-film solar cells, Ela explained that the third, next-generation solar cells consist of nanotechnology-based cells such as dye-sensitized, heterojunction, plastic, solid-state dye-sensitized, tandem, and perovskite cells.

Stating that perovskite cells are the most studied among next-generation solar cells due to their high efficiency, Ela explained that they are also conducting studies on this in the project.

Prof. Dr. Ela stated that with this project, they will develop perovskite solar cells with new hole transport materials and electron transport materials and apply them to hydrogen production.

Emphasizing that having an international research group takes their scientific work to a more advanced level, Ela noted the following:

"The Italian side will carry out the green hydrogen energy part of the project. They are synthesizing different electrocatalyst materials for hydrogen energy. We are producing completely new, third-generation perovskite solar cells here. Because we proposed this project with a new approach and new materials, it was highly appreciated by TÜBİTAK and Italy, and our project was approved. We have master's and doctoral students. We have post-doctoral researchers. At the same time, the contribution to us is important in terms of both technology transfer and joint cooperation to take this technology further. Our project started this month. Both the Italians are coming here, and our Turkish side will go to Italy to transfer knowledge together and take this technology to a more advanced level. Our goal is to realize hydrogen production through a single perovskite cell. To achieve this with a single solar cell."

Airi Suzuki, a master's student from Tokyo Metropolitan University in Japan, also expressed that they will increase the efficiency of next-generation solar cells with a new approach in the project.

Dr. Samina Qamar, who joined the research group from the University of Glasgow in Scotland, stated that they would take the techniques they have just learned to a more advanced level.

Othman Mahmood, who joined the group from Iraq for his doctorate, Hauwa Yahaya Umar from Nigeria, and doctoral student Mahmood Hussain from Pakistan also underlined their belief that the project will support green hydrogen production.

News Source: AA