A new paradigm for solar cell construction that may ultimately make them less expensive, easier to manufacture and more efficient at harvesting energy from the sun was experimentally demonstrated by a team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University.
Over five years, theoretical work began on the project with plotting the properties of hypothetical new compounds that exhibit bulk photovoltaic effect for visible light. The team started each compound with a “parent” material that would impart the final material with the polar aspect of the bulk photovoltaic effect.
