They are 1,000 times more efficient than classic ones

Japan is coming up with a breakthrough solution in the field of renewable energy that could completely change the current way of producing electricity from the sun. Scientists have introduced a new type of solar panel that uses titanium and selenium instead of conventional silicon. The result is an efficiency that is up to a thousand times higher than that of conventional panels.

The research was published in the scientific journal Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, and scientists believe that it could start a completely new era of solar energy – with lower costs, higher efficiency and better availability. This technology was highlighted by the MyElectricSparks portal.

New materials

The basis of this technology are photovoltaic cells created from layers of titanium dioxide and selenium. Japanese scientists have managed to improve the bond between these materials so that they can convert solar radiation into electrical energy with much higher efficiency than conventional silicon panels. This means they can produce significantly more energy from the sun without taking up more space.

Titanium as a material is nothing new in science – it is known for its strength and corrosion resistance, which makes it a popular element in aviation and medicine. However, its high price has so far prevented wider use. But there is also positive news in this regard – a team of researchers from the University of Tokyo has developed a new way to obtain titanium more cheaply.

In a study published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, scientists described a method that reduces the production costs of titanium by using rare earth metals. The head of the research, Toru H. Okabe, explained that while metals such as iron or aluminum can be produced cheaply in large quantities, titanium has always been expensive due to the complex process of removing oxygen from the ore. However, the new technique achieves a purity of up to 0.02% oxygen content, which fundamentally reduces the price of the raw material.

A key element in this process is yttrium – a rare earth metal used, for example, in LED technologies or superconductors. Scientists have found that when molten titanium reacts with yttrium, a solid titanium alloy material with a low oxygen content is formed. The result is more efficient and cheaper production.

However, a minor disadvantage is that the alloy contains approximately 1% yttrium, which can slightly affect its durability and corrosion stability. Researchers are therefore now trying to find a solution that would eliminate this problem, while maintaining a low price. If this is successful, the door will open for even wider use of titanium – not only in solar energy, but also in electronics and space technologies.

More powerful and affordable technology

The significance of this innovation is enormous. While silicon panels have their limitations in energy conversion efficiency, titanium-selenium cells could exceed these limits. Thanks to advanced materials and manufacturing processes, they can generate much more energy from the same amount of sunlight.

And more importantly, thanks to cheaper titanium, this technology could be not only more powerful, but also more affordable. This could significantly accelerate the transition to cleaner energy sources and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Although the research still faces several technical challenges, the outlook for the future is clear – extremely efficient, cheaper and more durable solar panels could soon change our approach to renewable energy around the world.