Triple-Layer Solar Panel Hits 1,000x Output

[{"selector":"#anim-23feaa16-6d13-4d4c-8392-76b4ae41c84c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-660b60f5-3333-45e3-90bb-88c2e85026e9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.55696%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-81668d46-05b0-490b-9dee-20eb145e208e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9e04e926-932a-4b19-9bdf-5e6a81ca516a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.3301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Triple-Layer Solar Panel Hits 1,000x Output Sunita Somvanshi

The secret? A triple-crystal sandwich that transforms sunlight into power without complex processing

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Traditional solar panels need specially treated silicon - but these new crystals naturally generate electricity from light

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How do they work? Scientists used lasers to stack 500 crystal layers into a panel just 200 nanometers thick

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Meet the power-packed trio: barium titanate, strontium titanate, and calcium titanate crystals

[{"selector":"#anim-46685594-d8c4-4263-8dc4-194591ddb392","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-42544496-2075-4db2-9ad7-b518fd95c6cd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 244.87591%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93f05aba-cc0c-463d-afae-1b66710f0f4f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5e839d1f-bf02-4af4-89cc-f26a056d24dd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38a0b24e-5630-4c40-bb8f-2ff37054e4ba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Zak Zak (CC BY 2.0)

When tested, these ultra-thin panels shocked scientists by generating 1000x stronger electrical current

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The panels kept their supercharged performance steady for 6 straight months of testing

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Unlike bulky traditional panels, these could fit almost anywhere - think tiny spaces with big power needs

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Dr. Jennifer Rupp calls it 'very exciting' - these panels could last longer and cost less to make

[{"selector":"#anim-b9a2936b-ba9a-47d6-a9bf-191f94cfc751","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7bf6822e-6f47-4b2b-a914-21c51a66da46","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 245.84677%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d281a49-f5ae-42d4-96e2-1e3d776a949d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-514557c3-e271-48fa-be2a-08562829e70c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d98960e7-19eb-4273-bb85-c6f3db00ccff","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Asian Development Bank (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

What's next for these mighty-mini panels? Scientists are working to bring them from lab to life

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[{"selector":"#anim-4ab84077-73ef-47c1-a368-1139d3326ac7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07095447-2ab3-4c6e-8cf9-0e86e8d4a6b7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b8366f6-cad6-4260-9afc-cef8c9c02290","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-731b2d6d-df02-47e0-aad6-ca70b38342ca","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-618b5aff-e619-43f7-825a-33d782266947","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.87301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] China's 1,200 GW Renewable Milestone: Emissions Still Rising Learn more