One of the most interesting updates in solar energy comes from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (via EES Solar), where researchers have developed 3D printed, semi-transparent, flexible perovskite solar cells with adjustable color and transparency.
Traditionally, solar panels are either blue, dark gray or black, depending on the type of panel and the materials they are made from. While this uniform look works well on roofs where no one can really see them, visible solar panels often don’t fit with the architecture or design. This problem affects city dwellers not only in the United States but around the world.
Solar cells are inherently more functional; They were never designed with aesthetics in mind. But that’s exactly what the scientists in Israel want to change. They are reinventing solar technology so that it fits seamlessly into modern buildings, complements the overall design or even improves the appearance of our homes and cities.
How scientists are rethinking solar panels as design elements
At the heart of the breakthrough are perovskite solar cells, known for their strong light absorption and energy conversion properties. While traditional solar panels use flat layers of the material, researchers have instead 3D printed perovskite into microscopic vertical columns (imagine a pine forest, only the trees are made of energy-absorbing material).
By adjusting the height, spacing, and density of these pillars, researchers can control how much light passes through the gaps, effectively adjusting the transparency of the cells. At the same time, the microscopic arrangement absorbs and reflects certain wavelengths of light, giving the solar cells a noticeable color.
Because the solar layer is not a flat film, it can also be bent without tearing, making the material flexible. This opens up completely new use cases. The cells can be printed directly onto windows, curved walls, facades and other non-flat surfaces while still producing electricity.
Better yet, their appearance can be tailored to fit the overall aesthetic of a building or even seasonal decor if you’re feeling festive. It’s easy to imagine this technology making its way into homes, offices, luxury hotels and other spaces where glass is already a central architectural element.
Could it also be printed on car windows and used as a power source for a small battery that can charge a phone? Possibly. This also means you may no longer need to mount bulky, visually distracting solar panels on your roof, as your windows themselves can quietly contribute to your home’s energy needs.
In other words, it is a material that absorbs light and generates electricity, behaving like a design element.
Tests show that the flexible solar material can achieve power conversion efficiency of up to 9.2% while maintaining an average visible transparency of approximately 35%. In addition, the vertically arranged perovskite cells maintained stable structural and performance characteristics even after repeated bending during long-term operation.
Despite the promising numbers, the efficiency must match that of traditional panels for companies to convince buyers to have them installed at their sites. The team is already working on improving the long-term durability of the material to prepare it for commercial use. Once these hurdles are overcome, the technology could move from laboratories to city skylines.
