Scientists have made breakthroughs in the core technology of a new generation of photovoltaics.
▲The research team collaborated to explore the key problems of materials (file photo). Xinhua News Agency
In order to solve the problem of poor operation stability of perovskite solar cells under high temperature working conditions, Professor Yuan Mingjian of the School of Chemistry of Nankai University and Professor Edward H. Sargent of the University of Toronto, Canada, cooperated to carry out in-depth research and successfully prepared perovskite solar cell devices with high energy conversion efficiency and high operation stability, marking a major breakthrough in the new generation of photovoltaic technology.
On the evening of September 30, the journal Nature published the research results with the title of "Formamidine-Cesium Component Perovskite Solar Cells with High Efficiency and Thermal Stability".
Perovskites are a class of materials with unique crystal structures, which are widely used in semiconductor devices such as new solar cells. As the third generation of photovoltaic technology, perovskite solar cells were rated as one of the top ten breakthroughs in 2013 by Science magazine, and they are also one of the most promising photovoltaic technologies to achieve green energy transformation under the current global decarbonization wave. Its unique flexibility and large-area preparation potential bring unprecedented opportunities for photovoltaics, Internet of Things, new energy vehicles, and even aerospace.
▲Scientists show perovskite solar cell modules (file photo). Xinhua News Agency
The stability of this new type of solar cell has been a key factor limiting its large-scale commercial application. As the light-absorbing layer of the cell, the stability of perovskite materials is significantly affected by external environmental factors. At present, high-performance perovskite solar cells often rely on volatile organic amine salt additives to stabilize the phase and regulate crystallization during the preparation process. However, this additive is very easy to decompose under high temperature conditions, which leads to an imbalance in the chemical composition of perovskite films, which in turn significantly reduces the operating stability of the battery under high temperature conditions.
In order to solve this problem, Yuan Mingjian led the research team to develop a preparation strategy for alloy perovskites with higher thermal stability based on theoretical predictions, which completely solved the problem of heterogeneous composition of FACsPbI3 perovskite films. The FACsPbI3 perovskite solar cell devices fabricated by this strategy exhibit world-class energy conversion efficiency and stability at high temperatures.
"This research not only lays a solid technical foundation for the stability improvement of perovskite solar cells, but also opens up broad prospects for the further application and commercialization of photovoltaic technology, which is of far-reaching significance for promoting the green transformation of the global energy structure." Yuan Mingjian said.
Yuan Mingjian said that at present, the research team is actively promoting the research and development of high-performance perovskite solar cell modules that meet the needs of industrialization through school-enterprise cooperation, and strives to promote the practical application and industrialization of research results as soon as possible.
Source: Xinhua News Agency