Halide perovskites are among the most promising materials for next-generation solar cells. A team led by Monash University has now found an unexpected electrical property hiding inside one of them. The research was published in PNAS and announced by Monash on November 6, 2026.
The discovery
As the Monash University release explains, caesium lead iodide (CsPbI3), previously considered electrically non-polar, contains extremely thin boundaries where atoms shift position and create local electrica...
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Monash University
Solar Balloon” Farms Could be the Future of Energy
Imagine if your home was powered by solar balloons that sat above the clouds. Scientists at the Japanese-French Laboratory for Next Generation Photovolatic Cells (NextPV) are aiming to do just that.
Solar cells’ efficiency relies on the proximity of the cells to sunlight. Even if the cells are put directly in the path of sunlight, their efficiency is affected significantly by clouds or terrible weather. On a cloudy day, solar panels can produce less than 30% of the electricity they are design...
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BAT: The floating balloon Wind Turbine
Altaeros Energies is aiming high with new heights for wind energy.
The company, led by Ben Glass, has created a new invention with the help of balloon and airship technology to lift a wind turbine. Their novel Buoyant Airborne Turbine--the BAT--is a balloon that lifts a wind turbine.
Most wind turbine manufacturers are competing to build taller turbines to harness more powerful winds above 500 feet, or 150 meters.
The Altaeros BAT can reach 2,000 feet, or 600 meters. At this altitude, w...
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