The performance of solar panels could get spiced up with capsaicin, best known as the substance that makes chilli peppers taste hot. A team of scientists from China and Sweden found that adding capsaicin to solar cells boosted their efficiency at absorbing the sun’s energy. The spice also helped the cells to perform efficiently for longer, according to the study.
Capsaicin was added to solar cells that use perovskite to collect solar energy. This crystal material increases the power generation of solar cells compared with traditional solar panels, but the perovskite cells can degrade appreciably over time.
Adding a thin coat of capsaicin to the perovskite solar panels allowed more sunshine to be converted into electricity, boosting their power conversion to nearly 22 per
