Scientists at Oxford have developed a way of making solar panels from metal oxides found in toothpaste. The discovery offers a much more cost-effective way of harnessing solar power, estimated to be 50% cheaper to produce than the current cheapest technology.
The group, led by Henry Snaith of Jesus College, have produced solar cells that use organic materials and metal oxides. These are a lot less volatile than electrolyte dye cells and so can be produced very easily and cheaply over large areas.
Conversion efficiencies are 5-6% in the lab but are predicted to have the potential to reach 10%.
Ollie Bennett from solar power company MiPower said the discovery could be a “forerunner” in the solar panel market.
