By adding titanium to perovskite crystals, researchers have made solar cells more durable.

Solar power as an electricity source is growing in the United States, with 7% of Americans using it to run their homes. But scientists are still trying to make the solar panel production process more efficient.

Solar panels are composed of dozens of solar cells, which are usually made of silicon. While silicon is the standard, producing and processing it is energy-intensive, making it costly to build new solar panel manufacturing facilities. Most of the world’s solar cells are made in China, which has an abundance of silicon. To increase solar cell production in the U.S., a new, easily produced domestic material is needed.

“We’re developing technologies that we can easily produce without spending a ton of money on expensive equipment,” said Juan-Pablo Correa-Baena, an associate professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering.

Read more on Georgia Tech's Research webpage.