New materials for extremely high-efficiency perovskite solar cells

• A team of chemists from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania synthesized materials that were utilized for building a record-breaking perovskite solar module, with an efficiency of 21.4 percent. This was attained with the passivation of the active solar cell layer, which boosts the efficiency of the cell as well as substantially boosts its stability.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are just one of the globe's fastest-growing solar cell technologies. These elements are thin-layered, light-weight, flexible, as well as are made from low-cost products. Nevertheless, this type of solar cell still faces a significant issue: fast deterioration of perovskite material under ecological problems.

Passivation is an easy but effective way to boost the stability of perovskite solar cells as well as has actually been thought about as one of one of the most reliable strategies for getting rid of the issues of perovskite products and also their negative impacts. The passivated perovskite surface becomes a lot more immune to ambient conditions as temperature level or humidity, and also much more secure, expanding the resilience of the gadget.

KTU manufactured products were utilized in solar mini-modules

KTU chemists, together with researchers from scientific research centers in China, Italy, Lithuania, Switzerland and Luxembourg, substantially boosted the stability of perovskite solar cells making use of the passivation approach. The perovskite surface area ends up being chemically inactive during passivation, consequently eliminating perovskite flaws that occur throughout manufacture. The taking place perovskite solar cells achieve a performance of 23.9 percent with long-term operational stability (over 1000 h).

" Passivation has actually been used formerly, yet until now, a two-dimensional (2D) layer of perovskite is being formed on the traditional three-dimensional (3D) perovskite light absorber, making it tough for carriers to relocate, specifically at greater temperatures. It is critical to avoid this due to the fact that the solar cells come to be hot," claims co-author of the invention, KTU chief researcher Dr. Kasparas Rakštys.

To resolve this problem, a worldwide group of scientists carried out a study that estimated the minimum power called for to create 2D perovskites. The surface of the 3D perovskite layer was passivated by different isomers of phenylethylammonium iodide synthesized by KTU. These isomers have the same molecular formula yet different plans of atoms in space, determining the chance of 2D perovskite formation.

Researchers from the Lausanne Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Switzerland tested the materials in perovskite solar mini-modules with an active area over 300 times larger than common, laboratory-scale perovskite solar cells. These mini-modules achieved a record solar power conversion efficiency of 21.4 percent. The surface of the perovskite layer of the record-breaking mini-solar modules was covered with materials created by KTU chemists.

" The research study confirmed to be fairly reliable in protecting against the negative impacts of passivation on solar cells. It has been found that an isomer with the passivation groups closest to each various other bring about one of the most effective passivation as a result of the steric hindrance that stays clear of 2D perovskite formation. Remarkably, steric hindrance is additionally utilized as a tool in various locations of chemistry to avoid or slow down undesirable responses," says the KTU researcher.

The research study was published in Nature Communications.

Right now, KTU researchers are working with associates from various other countries to create practical, hole-transporting products and brand-new perovskite structures. According to Dr. Rakštys: "International cooperation in scientific research is essential since it is difficult to cover all the areas as chemistry, physics, as well as products scientific research operating in such interdisciplinary field."