Lead Halide Perovskite may Lead to More Efficient Solar Cells
Written by AZoMJan 22 2021
Among the group of materials called perovskites, one of the most fascinating is a material that is capable of changing solar light to electricity as efficiently as present-day silicon solar cells available in the market. This material could also be produced much more easily and cost-effectively.
Scientists at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University discovered that squeezing a promising lead halide material in a diamond anvil cell (left) produces a so-called “black perovskite” (right) that s stable enough for solar power applications. Image Credit: Greg Stewart/ SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.
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IMAGE: Scientists at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University discovered that squeezing a promising lead halide material in a diamond anvil cell (left) produces a so-called black perovskite (right). view more
Credit: Greg Stewart/ SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Among the materials known as perovskites, one of the most exciting is a material that can convert sunlight to electricity as efficiently as today s commercial silicon solar cells and has the potential for being much cheaper and easier to manufacture.
There s just one problem: Of the four possible atomic configurations, or phases, this material can take, three are efficient but unstable at room temperature and in ordinary environments, and they quickly revert to the fourth phase, which is completely useless for solar applications.