GoKawiil
Tech News
Scientists near Weizhou Island, publishing in the journal Joule, generated electricity from sunlight at a depth of about 33 feet using perovskite-based solar cells tuned to capture blue and green light that penetrates seawater. The two-hour simulated test produced 324 milliwatt-hours and reached a peak power conversion efficiency near 35 percent, according to the study led by Yunnan University's Wen-Hua Zhang.
A team of Chinese scientists modified perovskite solar cells to survive and function while submerged several meters below the ocean surface. By altering the perovskite's chemical composition, adding a water-repelling coating, and using larger crystal structures, they created cells resistant to seawater degradation that still efficiently capture dim, filtered sunlight.
Researchers led by Simin Ma at Yunnan University developed perovskite solar cells specifically tuned to convert the blue-shifted light that penetrates several meters underwater into electricity. They addressed the material's usual weakness to moisture by adding polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride, which forms a water-repelling layer and strengthens the crystal structure, improving both durability and power output.