Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have proposed a device design that could double the efficiency of 2D transition metal dichalcogenide (2D TMDC) solar cells. The cells, which are made of a thin layer of molybdenum selenide, are 100 times lighter than silicon or gallium arsenide solar cells, making them more suitable for space-based applications. While 2D TMDC solar cells are not as efficient as silicon solar cells, they produce more electricity per weight, a property known as “specific power”. The researchers believe that their superlattice structure design could achieve efficiencies of 10% and upwards in the next four to five years.
