SoylentNews

Environmentally friendly solar cell pushes forward the "next big thing in photovoltaics"

Northwestern University researchers are the first to develop a new solar cell with good efficiency that uses tin instead of lead perovskite as the harvester of light. The low-cost, environmentally friendly solar cell can be made easily using "bench" chemistry -- no fancy equipment or hazardous materials. "This is a breakthrough in taking the lead out of a very promising type of solar cell, called a perovskite," said Mercouri G. Kanatzidis, an inorganic chemist with expertise in dealing with tin. "Tin is a very viable material, and we have shown the material does work as an efficient solar cell."

http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2014/05/taking-the-lead-out-of-a-promising-solar-cell.html