Tech Frontier · Day
2026-11-06
6 stories in this section.
Solar perovskite finds a way to overcome one of its major commercial hurdles: light-induced degradation
Researchers from PolyU and Zhejiang University identified a mechanism for light-induced degradation in perovskite solar cells and developed a treatment to repair inter-crystal defects. This advance is significant for solar professionals as it addresses a major obstacle to the large-scale commercialization of this high-efficiency photovoltaic technology.
Solar glass survives ~20J hail impacts, but modules crack at lower energy when ice hits near the edge
Sandia National Laboratories research demonstrates that solar module glass withstands impacts up to 20 joules, but modules crack at lower energies when ice strikes near the edge. This finding is critical for engineers and installers to understand the specific mechanical vulnerabilities of large-format modules under severe weather conditions.
Kevlar textile stores solar energy and powers motion sensing in one fabric
Researchers developed a Kevlar textile that integrates molecular solar thermal storage and a triboelectric nanogenerator for self-powered motion sensing. This demonstrates a new approach to wearable energy harvesting that could influence future smart textile and building-integrated photovoltaic applications.
Study Finds 0.5-Meter Row Spacing Improves Cooling in Floating Solar Farms
A computational fluid dynamics study on a floating solar project in Italy identified a 0.5-meter row spacing as the most effective configuration for reducing panel operating temperatures. This research highlights the critical role of airflow management in floating photovoltaic design, challenging the assumption that proximity to water alone ensures optimal cooling for system efficiency.
The Solar Panel Recycling Dilemma: How to Sacrifice Value for Environmental Protection (Report)
Researchers evaluated the environmental and economic performance of three recycling strategies for frameless, double-glass solar panels encapsulated with flexible polyolefin. This analysis is critical for professionals as it highlights the trade-offs between material recovery value and environmental impact in next-generation panel designs.
Lithium-Ion Batteries and Capacitors Converge as Electrode and Electrolyte
A new review in Discover Electrochemistry maps how electrode and electrolyte advances are converging lithium-ion batteries and capacitors into complementary storage solutions. This matters to solar and energy-storage professionals because it clarifies which chemistry suits grid storage versus fast-cycling applications, guiding safer and more sustainable system design.