Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology have developed bifacial perovskite solar cells that possess remarkable transparency to infrared light, thanks to a hybrid NiO/Ag/NiO (NAN) transparent top electrode. These cells exhibit high transparency to infrared light and impressive power conversion efficiencies of 9.05 and 6.54 percent when illuminated from different sides. The cells also demonstrate remarkable durability, retaining 80 percent of their initial efficiency for over 1000 hours without encapsulation. This advancement holds significant potential for building-integrated photovoltaics, agrivoltaics, and other optoelectronic applications.

In a leap forward for quantum computing, a Microsoft team led by UC Santa Barbara physicists on Wednesday unveiled an eight-qubit topological quantum processor, the first of its kind. The chip, built as a proof-of-concept for the scientists’ design, opens the door to the development of the long-awaited topological quantum computer.

After a cyber attack or natural disaster, a backup network of decentralized devices — like residential solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and water heaters — could restore electricity or relieve stress on the grid, MIT engineers find.