First, let’s try to explain why this could be the next revolution for energy independence and, increased national security.

The scientists who made this discovery found that the algae they used had a special kind of shell. This shell was made up of a material called calcite. Calcite is a very hard and strong material, and it also has a very special crystal structure. The scientists found that they could use this crystal structure to create perovskites with very unique properties. These perovskites could be used for a wider range of applications than regular perovskites, and they could also be made more cheaply.

That sounds good, but what does this mean for you in your daily life?

Imagine that you have a block of wood. You can use this block of wood to make a lot of different things, like a chair, a table, or a toy. But what if you could find a way to change the properties of the wood? What if you could make it stronger, lighter, or more flexible? This is what the scientists in this study did with algae. They found a way to change the properties of the algae’s shell, which made it possible to create perovskites with unique properties.

Ok, so the German scientist succeeded to change the shell of the algae, but what can this do for us, for the energy industry?

The algae-based functional perovskites with tunable properties can be used for a variety of applications, including:

• Solar cells: Perovskites are a promising material for solar cells because they are very efficient at converting sunlight into electricity. The algae-based perovskites could be even more efficient than regular perovskites, which could lead to more affordable and efficient solar cells.
• Light-emitting diodes (LEDs): Perovskites can also be used to make LEDs. LEDs are used in a variety of devices, such as TVs, smartphones, and traffic lights. The algae-based perovskites could be used to make LEDs that are brighter, more efficient, and longer-lasting.
• Photocatalysts: Photocatalysts are used to convert sunlight into chemical energy. This chemical energy can then be used to break down pollutants or produce fuels. The algae-based perovskites could be used to make more efficient and effective photocatalysts.

These are just a few of the potential applications for algae-based functional perovskites with tunable properties. This new material has the potential to revolutionize a variety of industries, and it is sure to be the subject of much research in the years to come.

Summary: Today the world is dependent on various minerals, and metals, and The US isn’t in control of them. To be able to keep up in the clean energy race, this discovery is extremely important since it can reduce international dependency.

The following minerals are needed in today’s solar cells:

• Silicon: Silicon is the most important mineral in solar cells. It makes up the semiconductor material that converts sunlight into electricity. China is the world’s leading producer of silicon.
• Copper: Copper is used to conduct electricity in solar cells. Chile is the world’s leading producer of copper.
• Indium: Indium is used to create the transparent conductive coating on solar cells. China is the world’s leading producer of indium.
• Tellurium: Tellurium is used to create the back contact on solar cells. China is the world’s leading producer of tellurium.
• Gallium: Gallium is used to create p-type semiconductor material in solar cells. China is the world’s leading producer of gallium.

The following countries control the majority of the world’s supply of these minerals:

• Silicon: China (50%)
• Copper: Chile (30%)
• Indium: China (60%)
• Tellurium: China (70%)
• Gallium: China (60%)