Researchers from Swinburne University of Technology have developed the world’s most efficient thin film solar cells.

The group is working to increase the efficiency of thin film solar technology, which has been seen as a cheap but inefficient alternative to silicon cells. By embedding ‘bumpy’ gold and silver nanoparticles into the cells, the researchers were able to improve the cells' conversion of photons into electrons.

Although the research has so far achieved rapid results, researchers believe that there is strong potential to further improve the efficiency of the cells.