KAUST makes breakthrough to boost solar cell efficiency and durability

Special KAUST makes breakthrough to boost solar cell efficiency and durability
Four of the leading scientists for the project. Far right, Stefaan De Wolf, Second from right, Esma Ugur. (Supplied)
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Updated 20 August 2024
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KAUST makes breakthrough to boost solar cell efficiency and durability

KAUST makes breakthrough to boost solar cell efficiency and durability
  • Research team, led by Prof. Stefaan De Wolf at the KAUST Photovoltaics Laboratory, discovered a way to significantly improve the efficiency and durability of solar cells
  • De Wolf said that the cells had undergone testing under conditions that replicate the intense light and heat of the Arabian Peninsula

RIYADH: Researchers at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have made a breakthrough in solar energy technology by developing a novel method to enhance the performance and stability of perovskite silicon tandem solar cells.

The research team, led by Prof. Stefaan De Wolf at the KAUST Photovoltaics Laboratory, discovered a way to significantly improve the efficiency and durability of these solar cells by introducing a chemical cation called tetrahydrotriazinium into the perovskite material.

De Wolf said that these cells have undergone testing under conditions that replicate the intense light and heat of the Arabian Peninsula, which indicates that they can function effectively in environments with extreme climatic conditions where they might be required to operate.

Published in Science, a leading peer-reviewed academic journal that covers a wide range of scientific disciplines, the method demonstrated that tetrahydrotriazinium strengthens the perovskite crystal structure by increasing hydrogen bond formation.

According to the journal, this enhancement substantially boosts power conversion efficiency and resistance to degradation caused by factors like intense sunlight and heat.

De Wolf emphasized the team’s commitment to further enhancing the technology’s performance and reducing costs through ongoing research.

While the potential for commercialization is substantial, partnerships are essential to scale production and bring this innovative technology to market, he said.

This groundbreaking research represents a major step forward in developing affordable and sustainable solar energy solutions.

A-cations like tetrahydrotriazinium have a positive effect on the phase stability and electronic quality of perovskite films.

Tetrahydrotriazinium had been a difficult molecule to synthesize and isolate until last year when a different research group showed the benefits of adding methylenediammonium chloride into the synthesis route.

De Wolf’s team showed that the additive promoted the incorporation of tetrahydrotriazinium into the perovskite lattice. The result was perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells with 33.7 percent power conversion efficiency that showed more stability after 1500 hours of testing compared with cells manufactured without tetrahydrotriazinium.

The project was run by De Wolf’s research scientist Esma Ugur, who will continue her research at LMU Munich starting in 2025.


Saudi interior minister visits Paris Operation Center responsible for security during Olympics

Saudi interior minister visits Paris Operation Center responsible for security during Olympics
Updated 29 July 2025
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Saudi interior minister visits Paris Operation Center responsible for security during Olympics

Saudi interior minister visits Paris Operation Center responsible for security during Olympics
  • Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif met separately with Laurent Nunez, head of Paris Police Prefecture, and Guillaume Cardy, chief of RAID elite police unit

LONDON: Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif visited the Paris Operation Center during his official trip to France this week, where he held meetings with ministers and officials to enhance security cooperation between the two countries.

He was received on Tuesday by Laurent Nunez, the head of the Paris Police Prefecture, who briefed him on the workflow and technology of the center. Last summer, during the Paris 2024 Olympics, French authorities conducted a massive operation, deploying nearly 45,000 police officers for the event.

Prince Abdulaziz also visited the headquarters of the elite unit, RAID, which conducts research, provides assistance, intervenes in counter-terrorism efforts, and handles hostage rescues as well as high-risk criminal situations. He met with Guillaume Cardy, the chief of RAID, and observed a security strategy to address threats using the latest tactical methods and supporting techniques.

On Monday, Prince Abdulaziz discussed ways to enhance security cooperation with his French counterpart, Bruno Retailleau. The two interior ministers signed an executive document outlining future security cooperation between Riyadh and Paris.


Six Saudi trucks carrying food aid for Gaza cross Rafah border crossing

Six Saudi trucks carrying food aid for Gaza cross the Rafah border crossing. (SPA)
Six Saudi trucks carrying food aid for Gaza cross the Rafah border crossing. (SPA)
Updated 29 July 2025
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Six Saudi trucks carrying food aid for Gaza cross Rafah border crossing

Six Saudi trucks carrying food aid for Gaza cross the Rafah border crossing. (SPA)
  • Humanitarian aid, provided by KSrelief, is destined for the Gaza Strip as part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing campaign to deliver assistance to Palestinian people

RIYADH: Six Saudi trucks carrying food aid for Gaza crossed the Rafah border crossing, Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The humanitarian consignment, provided by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, is destined for the Gaza Strip as part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing campaign to deliver vital assistance to the Palestinian people.

A worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding in Gaza and immediate action is needed to avoid widespread death, a hunger monitor warned on Tuesday, as the number of Palestinians reported killed in the conflict crossed the 60,000 threshold.

Facing mounting international criticism over conditions in Gaza, Israel announced steps over the weekend to ease aid access. But the World Food Programme said on Tuesday it was not getting the permissions it needed to deliver enough aid since Israel began humanitarian pauses on Sunday.

Gaza health authorities have been reporting more and more people dying from hunger-related causes. The total stands at 147, among them 88 children, most of whom died in the last few weeks.


Saudi cabinet backs Palestinian statehood, welcomes France’s recognition pledge

Saudi cabinet backs Palestinian statehood, welcomes France’s recognition pledge
Updated 29 July 2025
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Saudi cabinet backs Palestinian statehood, welcomes France’s recognition pledge

Saudi cabinet backs Palestinian statehood, welcomes France’s recognition pledge
  • The cabinet voiced support for a high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France

The Saudi cabinet reaffirmed on Tuesday the Kingdom’s commitment to achieving lasting peace in the Middle East, voicing support for a high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.

The cabinet expressed hope the forum would accelerate international recognition of a Palestinian state and pave the way for implementing the two-state solution. It also welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent pledge to recognize Palestine, urging other countries to take similar steps in support of Palestinian rights and regional stability.

Chaired by King Salman, the cabinet condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli Knesset’s call to impose control over the occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley. It stressed that such actions violate international law and undermine efforts to achieve peace.

The cabinet also reviewed recent diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening ties with regional and international partners. It praised the outcomes of the Saudi delegation’s visit to Syria, conducted under the directive of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which led to the signing of 47 investment agreements worth nearly 24 billion riyals and the formation of a joint business council to boost cooperation between the two nations' private sectors.

Minister of Media Salman Al-Dosari, in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, highlighted the Kingdom’s participation in the United Nations High-Level Political Forum. He noted that Saudi Arabia has recorded the fastest progress among G20 countries in sustainable development over the past decade, underscoring its leadership in international initiatives that promote prosperity and progress.


Saudi Game Champions program empowers national talent for global market

Saudi Game Champions program empowers national talent for global market
Updated 29 July 2025
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Saudi Game Champions program empowers national talent for global market

Saudi Game Champions program empowers national talent for global market
  • Program included multiple stages: a Game Jam, incubation and acceleration phases, and closing ceremony celebrating local achievements and talent
  • Initiative is aimed at helping participants enter the market with high standards of quality and professionalism

RIYADH: The Center of Digital Entrepreneurship of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has concluded the Saudi Game Champions program, a nine-month initiative to support the growth of the nation’s development studios.

The program included multiple stages: a Game Jam, incubation and acceleration phases, and closing ceremony celebrating local achievements and talent.

The initiative is aimed at helping participants enter the market with high standards of quality and professionalism.

It offered over 180 hours of specialized workshops and more than 1,500 hours of mentorship, involving 25 Saudi Arabia game studios.

At the closing ceremony, Hussain Al-Safwan of LIMELESS Studio won the Bold Change Award, while Fahad Al-Jumaan of Hero Galaxy Studio received the Most Inspirational Award.

Mostafa Fares earned the Most Creative Award, and his colleague Ali Aseeri received the People’s Choice Award, both representing SYMMETRIC STUDIO.

The initiative is a part of the center’s broader efforts to strengthen the Kingdom’s role in the global gaming industry.


Coalition hosts anti-terror finance training in Comoros

Coalition hosts anti-terror finance training in Comoros
Updated 29 July 2025
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Coalition hosts anti-terror finance training in Comoros

Coalition hosts anti-terror finance training in Comoros
  • The course aims to equip participants with information on national and international legal frameworks related to these issues, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday

The Saudi Arabia-backed Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition has launched a five-day training course in Moroni, Comoros, focused on combating terrorism financing and money laundering. 

The course aims to equip participants with information on national and international legal frameworks related to these issues, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

It focuses on skills to analyze financial data and detect suspicious activities, raise public awareness of related risks, and develop effective prevention and coordination mechanisms among regulatory, security, and financial authorities.

Participants include representatives from regulatory and judicial bodies, the Ministry of Interior, law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, non-financial businesses, and non-profit organizations.

The course reflects the coalition’s commitment to enhance international cooperation and develop national civil and military competencies to combat these crimes.

It also aims to create a professional training environment that fosters integrated and effective systems to combat financial threats linked to terrorism.