Novel additive helps improve stability of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells

• Prof. Ye Jichun's team at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has actually created a long-alkyl- chain anionic surfactant (LAS) additive that can significantly improve the lasting operational stability of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. The research study was published in Nature Communications.

Thanks to the rapid development of the power conversion performance (PCE), which has actually jumped from 13.7% to 33.2% over the past eight years, perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells have a promising future. However, the relatively reduced stability of perovskite energetic layers still hinders the development and commercialization of perovskite/silicon tandem tools.

Traditional methods to improve the stability consist of encapsulation, crystallization engineering, and defect passivation. Similar to "stress corrosion" in steels, glass and polymers, subcritical perovskite wear and tear undoubtedly occurs because of tensile stress throughout the manufacture and operation, which degrades device performance.

To subdue the "stress deterioration," the researchers developed a novel LAS additive for the perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells.

Because of the surface area segregation and micellization, the LAS additive can chemically change the perovskite crystallization kinetics. Additionally, it can physically form a glue-like scaffold to get rid of the residual stress.

Due to the minimized defects, suppressed ion migration, and improved power level alignment, the unencapsulated perovskite and perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells displayed exceptional operational stability.

Under constant light illumination, the LAS-modified single-junction perovskite and dual-junction perovskite/silicon tandem devices can maintain 85.7% and 93.6% of their original PCE after 3,000 hrs and 450 hours of maximum power point monitoring, specifically, which are amongst the most effective stabilities reported to day under similar conditions.

The ingenious approach of this research may provide insight into the industrial production and large-scale application of highly stable perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells.