将阳光“一分为二” 硅太阳能电池中实现稳定“单线态裂分”效应

Core Insights - A research team from the University of New South Wales in Australia has achieved a significant breakthrough in solar technology by discovering a stable organic material that enables "singlet fission" in silicon solar cells, potentially enhancing photovoltaic conversion efficiency [1][2]. Group 1: Technology Breakthrough - The "singlet fission" effect allows a single photon to split into two energy packets, effectively converting wasted thermal energy from sunlight into additional electricity [1]. - By layering a thin organic molecular layer on the surface of silicon cells, high-energy photons can undergo fission, generating two lower-energy excited states and injecting more charge into the silicon layer, significantly increasing current output [1]. Group 2: Efficiency Potential - Current commercial silicon solar cells have a maximum conversion efficiency of about 27%, with a theoretical limit of 29.4%. The introduction of the "singlet fission" mechanism could potentially raise this theoretical efficiency to 45% [1]. - The research team utilized dibenzothiophene (DPND), an industrial pigment with excellent durability, which can operate stably in air and humid environments, proving compatible with silicon cells for energy multiplication [1]. Group 3: Practical Application - This is the first instance of achieving singlet fission on silicon materials using stable organic molecules based on industrial pigments, which are already widely used in automotive coatings, indicating sufficient chemical stability for long-term outdoor applications [2]. - The technology can be integrated by simply applying a new layer of material onto existing silicon cells [2].