A Dive into Underwater Solar Cells

Jason Rohr, B. Edward Sartor, Jason Lipton, Andre Taylor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus Citations

Abstract

Our oceans are vast, mostly unexplored and difficult to monitor. Large-scale implementation of a fully autonomous 'Internet of Underwater Things' would transform how we collect and share data from this domain; however, deployment is prohibited by the lack of persistent power sources. In principle, underwater solar-energy generation can complement the use of batteries and provide a solution, although dedicated research is needed since traditional silicon solar cells do not perform well underwater due to water's strong absorption of near-infrared light. In this Perspective we present examples of solar-powered underwater applications and discuss which types of solar-harvesting materials could be appropriate, including GaInP variants, CdTe, organic semiconductors, and perovskite semiconductors. We also discuss challenges that need to be addressed, such as the development of effective antifouling coatings and new certification standards given that underwater conditions are starkly different from those in terrestrial environments.
Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)747-754
Number of pages8
JournalNature Photonics
Volume17
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/JA-5K00-87480

Keywords

  • antifouling coatings
  • CdTe
  • certification standards
  • GaInP variants
  • organic semiconductors
  • perovskite semiconductors
  • underwater solar-energy generation

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