PULLMAN, Wash. - Researchers have reached a critical milestone in solar cell fabrication, helping pave the way for solar energy to directly compete with electricity generated by conventional energy sources.
The research was funded by the Energy Department's SunShot Initiative, which aims to make solar cost-competitive with traditional energy sources. It was also supported in part by Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences.
The research is in keeping with Washington State University's Grand Challenges initiative stimulating research to address some of society's most complex issues. It is particularly relevant to the challenge of "Sustainable Resources for Society" and its theme of meeting energy needs while protecting the environment.