Hello, solar enthusiasts and all who are keen to learn more about the amazing developments in the solar industry! I’m here today to share with you an exciting breakthrough. Scientists and researchers at the University of Victoria in Canada have built an innovative flexible Perovskite solar cell. Now, if you’re not familiar with Perovskite solar cells, they’re a type of solar technology that are potentially much cheaper and more adaptable than traditional solar panels for your home.
So what’s so special about this flexible solar cell? Well, it’s built on a substrate of Polyethylene Terephthalate (known as PET), which is a more cost-effective option than Polyethylene Naphthalate (PEN), a material commonly used in substrates for flexible solar cells. However, it’s also important to take into account that PET has a maximum temperature tolerance of 100°C and can tolerate deposition procedures under this threshold. A substance called Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) was also used in the substrate.
In terms of the cell’s architecture, the team of researchers layered this PET and ITO substrate with an electron transport layer based on tin oxide (SnO2), a methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) perovskite absorber, a Spiro-OMeTAD hole-transporting layer (HTL), and a gold (Au) metal contact.
Something truly fascinating about this solar cell is that the deposit of SnO2, Spiro-OMeTAD, and the perovskite absorber required a maximum temperature of 100°C. The perovskite deposition process utilized a slot-die coating of acetate/chloride salts, creating local positive pressure and pushing dust away from the deposition area.
This new solar cell was built with an active area of 0.049 cm2, using a reactant known as phenyltrimethylammonium chloride (PTACl). This component has demonstrated its effectiveness in increasing the particle-to-particle interaction in the colloidal solution, thereby improving the overall performance of these flexible solar cells.
Tested under standard illumination conditions, this flexible perovskite device achieved a power conversion efficiency of 17.6%, an open-circuit voltage of 0.95V, a short-circuit current density of 23 mA cm−2, and a fill factor of 80%. When they built a bigger 1 cm2 device with the same configuration, it showed an efficiency of 12.7%, an open-circuit voltage of 0.97 V, a short-circuit current density of 21.7 mA cm−2, and a fill factor of 60.2%.
This development is extremely promising for those of us keeping an eye on solar companies and the ongoing advancements in the field. The potential of flexible, affordable solar arrays for home use is truly exciting. Solar technology is continuously evolving, and as it does, we’re seeing more and more possibilities for efficient, affordable, and adaptable solar energy solutions.
Looking to the future, it is suggested that further research should focus on replacing MAPbI3 with more stable perovskite materials. This continuous evolution and improvement within the solar sector are what makes it such an exciting time to be involved in the solar industry. Stay tuned, and let’s continue learning and growing together.
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/02/26/fully-printable-flexible-perovskite-solar-cell-achieves-17-6-efficiency/
