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This strategy enabled perovskite solar cells to achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.6%.
Scientists in China have developed a new method to boost efficiency and strength of solar cells. Researchers demonstrated the molecular press annealing (MPA) strategy that helped perovskite solar cells survive for more than 2,000 hours of continuous testing in extreme heat and high humidity.
Developed by researchers from Xi’an Jiaotong University in China, the method protects the cells from damage during fabrication.
This strategy enabled n-i-p perovskite solar cells to achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.6%. Notably, the devices retain 98.6% and 97.2% of their initial PCEs after 16-17 hours of continuous operation under maximum power point tracking.
Published in the journal Science, the study revealed that 2-pyridylethylamine formed a solid-state bidentate coordination complex with under-coordinated lead cation that preserved lattice integrity.
Real-time healing of iodine vacancies occurred during annealing and the lead-iodine framework was stabilized through optimized ligand engineering, resulting in enhanced structural integrity and long-term stability of perovskite films. This strategy enabled n-i-p perovskite solar cells to achieve a PCE of 26.6%, according to the study.
To make PSCs, the perovskite film has to be heated, which helps the perovskite crystals grow. These are the cell’s active layers that capture sunlight and convert it into electricity. However, heat can cause iodide to be lost from the surface, leaving behind tiny holes. These gaps are weak spots that can spread inward, causing the crystal structure to degrade and ultimately reduce the cell’s efficiency. While scientists usually try to repair the damage after it occurs, this new method prevents it from happening in the first place, reported Tech Xplore.
The research team showed that thermal and pressure bonding of a capping layer to a perovskite surface suppresses defect initiation from iodide loss and enhances long-term stability. The team revealed that 2-pyridylethylamine formed a solid-state bidentate coordination complex with under-coordinated lead cation that preserved lattice integrity. Conventional perovskite solar cells that achieved a power conversion efficiency of 25% retained 98.6% of that efficiency under maximum power point tracking at (185° F) 85°C and 60% relative humidity, according to the study.
Perovskites are a family of materials that have shown potential for high performance and low production costs in solar cells. The name “perovskite” comes from their crystal structure. These materials are utilized in other energy technologies, such as fuel cells and catalysts. Perovskites commonly used in photovoltaic (PV) solar cells are more specifically called “metal-halide perovskites” since they are made of a combination of organic ions, metals, and halogens; perovskites in other applications may be made of oxygen instead of halogens and are usually entirely inorganic.
Metal-halide perovskites are the main absorbing material, or “active layer,” in a perovskite solar cell. In this potentially inexpensive technology, a thin layer of perovskite absorbs light, which excites charged particles called electrons; when these excited electrons are extracted, they generate electric power.
Prabhat, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, is a tech and defense journalist. While he enjoys writing on modern weapons and emerging tech, he has also reported on global politics and business. He has been previously associated with well-known media houses, including the International Business Times (Singapore Edition) and ANI.
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