The work centers on halide perovskite solar cells, which are photovoltaic devices made from synthetic materials with a crystalline structure and strong light absorption properties. While silicon remains the dominant solar cell technology, perovskites are attracting attention because they can deliver high conversion efficiency at potentially lower cost, but they suffer from degradation and instability when exposed to humidity, temperature cycles and other environmental stresses.
To address these weaknesses, the researchers used plasma technology to create and deposit a protective coating about 100 nanometers thick directly onto the perovskite cells. This ultra-thin film acts as an encapsulant that chemically shields the perovskite layer and enhances its optical response, improving the cells ability to absorb incoming light and maintain performance over time.
At the same time, the film is engineered with a triboelectric surface that generates electrical charge when impacted or rubbed, converting the motion of raindrops into usable electrical current. In the team's tests, the hybrid coating enabled nanogenerators to produce more than 100 volts from a single water droplet impact, with reported peak values around 110 volts per drop, which is sufficient to drive small portable electronics under laboratory conditions.
According to the researchers, the coatings can be produced in a scalable way using sustainable plasma processes, and they have demonstrated notable stability even in extreme environments, such as prolonged immersion in water. The hybrid devices have also been shown to continuously power simple electronic loads, including light emitting diode circuits, while helping perovskite solar modules withstand humidity temperature cycling that typically undermines long term operation.
"Our work proposes an advanced solution that combines perovskite solar cell photovoltaic technology with triboelectric nanogenerators in a thin film configuration, thus demonstrating the feasibility of implementing both energy harvesting systems," said ICMS researcher Carmen Lopez. By integrating the photovoltaic and triboelectric functions in a single coating, the architecture aims to deliver power whether conditions are sunny, cloudy or rainy.
The team frames the technology as a response to the limitations of conventional batteries and the reduced efficiency of solar panels during overcast or rainy periods. Their sun rain hybrid approach is designed to offer a higher degree of energy autonomy for portable and wireless electronic devices, allowing continuous functioning as environmental conditions change.
The authors argue that the device concept has broad potential across the Internet of Things sector, from environmental sensors that monitor humidity, rain or pollution, to structural sensors embedded in bridges and buildings, as well as weather stations and precision agriculture systems. In these scenarios, autonomous power sources that exploit multiple ambient energy streams could reduce the need for battery replacement or wired connections.
"Its implementation in so called smart cities is feasible, such as in signage, autonomous auxiliary lighting or monitoring, as it can withstand adverse weather conditions and the presence of rain, humidity and thermal cycles. It would also be applicable for distributed energy structures in remote, inaccessible or isolated areas, such as marine stations," said ICMS researcher Fernando Nunez. The hybrid coating concept could therefore support both urban infrastructure and remote installations where maintenance is difficult.
The authors describe their thin film triboelectric coated modules as hybrid solar rain panels, or rain panels, that can harvest energy from different environmental sources through a single surface. They see plasma deposited coatings as a multifunctional strategy that both protects sensitive energy devices and layers in additional harvesting capabilities without major changes to the underlying cell architecture.
Research Report:Water-resistant hybrid perovskite solar cell - drop triboelectric energy harvester
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