For new research in Solar Cell Technology, see Solar Cell Technology. In this article, Australian researchers describe how they improved on their record of efficiency in solar cell sunlight conversion. By using multiple solar cells in series, with each cell tuned to a specific frequency of sunlight, they were able to add percentage points of conversion to their prior record. That record now stands at 43% which means just under half of the sunlight to which the solar cells were exposed was converted to power. That said, there are caveats to the approach used.

The method used was quite different than used in single solar cell experiments which currently only convert 25% of sunlight. The multi-cellular approach used conducting wafers that are extremely hard to mass produce so marketing the product will take additional time. The second is that the researchers had to focus the sunlight more intensely than is naturally possible to reach the current level of conversion.

Therefore, the possibilities for future use of the technology is on the horizon but one should not expect it to be available for at least the next few years.