Improving perovskite solar cell resistance to degradation

• Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) can be made with low-cost materials, are highly effective, can surpass conventional silicon solar cells, as well as have the prospective to reinvent renewable energy. However, one of the current drawbacks preventing their widespread usage has is their lack of functional stability.

Currently, scientists at EPFL and also Sungkyunkwan University in Korea have actually discovered a way to improve the stability of PSCs. The researchers concentrated on the degradation of perovskite thin films, which can be harmed by exposure to moisture, warm, and light. The research was executed by the groups of Professors Michael Grätzel (EPFL) and also Nam-Gyu Park (Sungkyunkwan University), as well as released in Scientific research.

The researchers checked out 2 particular crystal facets, a term that describes the crystal's flat surface area, identified by a particular arrangement of atoms. The setup of atoms on these facets can influence the homes as well as behavior of the crystal, such as its stability and its reaction to external stimulations like moisture or warm.

The researchers considered the (100) and also (111) facets of perovskite crystals. The (100) facet is a plane that is perpendicular to a crystal's c-axis with its atoms organized in a repeating pattern in the form of a square grid. In the (111) facet the atoms are set up in a triangular grid.

The research located that the (100) facet, which is most generally discovered in perovskite thin films, is particularly prone to degradation as it can promptly shift to an unstable, inactive stage when subjected to moisture. On the other hand, the (111) facet was located to a lot more stable and immune to degradation.

The scientists likewise recognized the source of the degradation and also located that it was due to a strong bond in between the perovskite as well as water particles, which caused the change from the steady to unstable phase. They used this details to develop a method called "facet engineering," in which they utilized unique ligand particles to grow the a lot more steady (111) facet. This led to perovskite films that were exceptionally steady as well as immune to both moisture and warm.

The research stands for an essential step forward in the development of PSCs, as stability is a significant difficulty to their commercialization. The findings offer a far better understanding of just how the different crystal facets contribute to the stability of the films; by identifying the most stable facets as well as locating ways to encourage their growth, it may be feasible to improve the general stability of PSCs and increase their entry into the market as a reliable as well as cost-effective resource of renewable resource.