How Does Barium Titanate Work In Solar Panels?
Barium titanate is a particularly useful ceramic powder with a wide range of different applications, used in the manufacturing of everything from ceramic capacitors and microphones to thermistors, thermal cameras and electro-optical display panels.
One of its more recent applications, however, is solar cells and panels, where it creates a strong internal electric field that separates the positive and negative charges generated by light. This enhances the photovoltaic effect and can actually make these panels even more efficient for electricity generation.
Interestingly, research from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg – published last year – indicated that barium titanate solar panels are 1,000 times more powerful than traditional silicone panels.
It was found that combining very thin layers of barium titanate, strontium titanate and calcium titanate in a lattice structure significantly increases the solar energy yield.
This finding has excellent implications for the solar industry, as solar panels manufactured using barium titanate layered with other materials would be significantly more efficient, while production costs would be lower than for silicone-based cells.
Less space would also be required to generate the same amount of energy, so they could be used to great effect in urban areas where space is at a premium.
Commenting on the findings, physicist Dr Akash Bhatnagar was quoted by The Brighter Side as saying: “The interaction between the lattice layers appears to lead to a much higher permittivity. In other words, the electrons are able to flow much more easily due to the excitation by the light photons.
“The layer structure shows a higher yield in all temperature ranges than pure ferroelectrics. The crystals are also significantly more durable and do not require special packaging.”
With solar power set to become the biggest electricity source by 2050, according to projects from the International Energy Agency, it’s essential that efficiency of panels is prioritised… and it seems that the answers may well lie in the use of barium titanate.
