Indoor solar cells deliver six times more energy with perovskite tech

Researchers from University College London (UCL), in collaboration with teams from China and Switzerland, have developed perovskite-based indoor solar cells that achieve a record-breaking efficiency of 37.6% under typical indoor lighting conditions (1000 lux), which is about six times higher than current commercial indoor solar cells. These cells are engineered to overcome perovskite’s main limitation—structural defects called traps that impede electron flow and reduce performance over time—through a three-part chemical treatment involving rubidium chloride and two organic ammonium salts (DMOAI and PEACl). This approach promotes uniform crystal growth and stabilizes the material’s ions, significantly enhancing both efficiency and durability. The new solar cells demonstrated remarkable stability, retaining 92% of their efficiency after 100 days and 76% after 300 hours of intense light exposure at 55°C, outperforming untreated cells substantially. This durability suggests these cells could power small indoor electronics such as remote controls, keyboards, and sensors for