Scientists Have Made Solar Cells 10,000 Times Thinner Than Human Hair – And They Could Be Mounted Directly On Windows

Image Courtesy: NTU Singapore

Scientists in Singapore have developed ultrathin solar cells that are roughly 10,000 times thinner than a human hair, opening the door to windows, skyscrapers, vehicles, and even wearable devices that can generate electricity while remaining nearly transparent.

The breakthrough comes from researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), who created semi-transparent perovskite solar cells capable of converting sunlight into electricity while allowing light to pass through. The technology is designed to blend into glass surfaces without significantly altering their appearance, making it a potential solution for integrating renewable energy into everyday structures. The findings were recently announced by the university, according to published study.

The research highlights a growing effort to transform existing surfaces into clean energy generators. Unlike traditional rooftop solar panels, the new cells could be incorporated directly into windows and glass façades, helping buildings produce electricity without requiring additional space or major architectural changes.

The devices are made from perovskite, a material that has attracted significant interest for its ability to absorb sunlight efficiently while potentially costing less to manufacture than conventional silicon-based solar cells. The new cells can also generate power under indirect and diffuse lighting conditions, making them particularly useful in urban environments where direct sunlight is often limited.

To create the technology, researchers used a vacuum-based manufacturing process known as thermal evaporation. This allowed them to form highly uniform perovskite layers as thin as 10 nanometers while avoiding the toxic solvents commonly used in solar-cell production.

Testing showed that opaque versions of the cells achieved power conversion efficiencies ranging from 7% to 12%, depending on thickness. A semi-transparent version allowed 41% of visible light to pass through while still reaching an efficiency of 7.6%, a result researchers say ranks among the strongest reported for comparable ultrathin transparent perovskite devices.

The team believes the technology could eventually help large glass-covered buildings offset a portion of their electricity consumption, potentially generating hundreds of megawatt-hours of power annually if deployed at scale.

Researchers have already filed a patent for the innovation and are working with industry partners to improve durability and scale up production. Before commercial adoption becomes possible, scientists must demonstrate long-term stability, but the technology could ultimately transform ordinary windows into a new source of renewable energy.