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Dr Nandipha got a birthday cake after the bail hearing

Today was a big day for Nandipha as she turned 35, and her family made sure to celebrate it with her. Despite the challenges she’s faced, her family’s unwavering support speaks volumes about the power of familial love.

A video surfaced of Nandipha receiving a birthday cake from her family, sparking debates on social media. Some argue that a cake in jail shouldn’t be allowed, but the final decision on her bail will come on Monday.

Regardless of the outcome, Nandipha can take solace in her family’s love on this special day. As we wait for the verdict, let’s pay attention to the insights of those closely following the case, as there might be more to uncover.



Scientists Connect Two Solar Technologies to Increase Efficiency

Integration of Silicon and Perovskite in Tandem Solar Cell Design Enhances Efficiency and Stability

Scientists from Princeton University and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have successfully integrated silicon solar cells with perovskite in a tandem solar cell design.

Enhanced Efficiency and Stability

This connection not only enhances overall solar cell efficiency but also enhances stability, according to their report. The tandem design protects the delicate perovskite solar cell from voltage-induced breakdown while achieving higher efficiencies than either cell can individually.

Tandem Solar Cells Outperform Individual Cells

Barry Rand, research leader and professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, explained that “tandem solar cells have already demonstrated power conversion efficiencies that are greater than either silicon or perovskite solar cells alone.”

Addressing Stability Challenges

“We thought that in addition to their higher efficiencies, tandem solar cells could also solve some of the stability challenges facing perovskites by linking them with silicon cells, which are much more stable,” Rand added.

Testing Three Solar Cell Configurations

The researchers constructed three strings of solar cells: one with silicon solar cells only, one with perovskite cells only, and one composed of tandem solar cells, with the two technologies connected in a series. They then shaded one of the cells in the string to simulate partial shading conditions that a solar array may encounter during its lifespan.

Overcoming Partial Shading Issues

Partial shading is typically problematic for perovskites, as the illuminated cells force charge to flow through the shaded cell, rapidly degrading both it and the entire module. In contrast, silicon solar cells are more resilient to voltage fluctuations and can endure periods of partial shading with fewer issues.

The perovskite-only solar module rapidly deteriorated after partial shading, while the silicon solar module was minimally affected. Surprisingly, the tandem solar module demonstrated the same resilience as the silicon-only module, indicating that connecting the two solar technologies allowed the silicon cell to compensate for the fragility of the perovskite.

Strength in Combination

Co-author Stefaan De Wolf, a professor of material science and engineering at KAUST, noted that “when you combine two different materials to form a final product, usually it’s the weakest link that ends up determining the overall strength of the chain.”

“But in this case, it’s actually the stronger component that protected the weaker one,” he added.

Potential for Commercialization

This discovery suggests that partial shading, a major challenge for perovskite-only modules, may be of little concern for series-connected tandem solar devices.

The researchers also believe that this finding holds promise for the commercialization of perovskite technology. By integrating perovskites with mature silicon solar cell manufacturing processes, rather than building a separate manufacturing ecosystem, perovskites could become a valuable addition to established production methods.

Advancing Solar Technology

While there are still obstacles to overcome, such as perovskites’ poor resilience to heat, the team believes that tandem solar cells could further advance solar technology, even as silicon solar cells reach their maximum power conversion efficiency limits. The findings of the team were recently published in the journal Joule.

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