Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) are viewed as a promising technology for next-generation photovoltaics, thanks to their high efficiency and low cost of production. This has the potential to transform the renewable energy industry. Despite this potential, the current layer-by-layer manufacturing method
May 11, 2021 Share
Perovskites are a category of materials with a distinct crystalline atomic structure. Just over ten years ago, scientists found that perovskites are exceptionally good at absorbing light. The discovery set off an overwhelming flow of new research into perovskite solar cells. Since then, the efficiency of those solar cells has increased substantially and now rivals that of conventional silicon cells.
In manufacturing, perovskite cells are superior because they’re much more effortless and require less energy consumption. The light absorber can be made at near room temperature, whereas silicon needs to reach 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit. Perovskite films are also much thinner than silicon wafers (400x thinner), opening up more opportunities for its use and requiring less material overall, making for a potentially cheaper device. However, the stability and reliability of the perovskite cells remain a challenge.
Molecular glue strengthens the weak point in perovskite solar cells Molecular glue strengthens t.
Scientists have developed a new, more stable type of perovskite solar cell that uses molecular glue to form strong bonds between its layers
Padture Lab/Brown University 1/1
Scientists have developed a new, more stable type of perovskite solar cell that uses molecular glue to form strong bonds between its layers
Padture Lab/Brown University
In a relatively short space of time, perovskite solar cells have become a highly promising candidate when it comes to how we might generate electricity in the future, but there are some design problems to overcome first. These largely relate to stability issues that see the cells quickly deteriorating during use, but scientists at Brown University have come up with a way of addressing this by targeting a weak point with something they call molecular glue.
A “molecular glue” dramatically increases the stability and reliability of perovskite solar cells over time, researchers report in a new study.
The treatment, which keeps a key interface inside the cells from degrading, also improves the efficiency with which they convert sunlight into electricity.
“There have been great strides in increasing the power-conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells,” says senior author Nitin Padture, a professor of engineering at Brown University.
“But the final hurdle to be cleared before the technology can be widely available is reliability making cells that maintain their performance over time. That’s one of the things my research group has been working on, and we’re happy to report some important progress.”
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IMAGE: Researchers have used self-assembled monolayer molecular glue totoughen interfaces in perovskite solar cells to make them more efficient,stable and reliable. view more
Credit: Padture lab/Brown University
PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] A research team from Brown University has made a major step toward improving the long-term reliability of perovskite solar cells, an emerging clean energy technology. In a study to be published on Friday, May 7 in the journal
Science, the team demonstrates a molecular glue that keeps a key interface inside cells from degrading. The treatment dramatically increases cells stability and reliability over time, while also improving the efficiency with which they convert sunlight into electricity.