The study, published today in the journal Science, focuses on understanding how the chemical structure of the amidinium ligand controls the formation of the low-dimensional perovskite phase atop the conventional three-dimensional perovskite.
These highly ordered layers form a smooth, stable protective layer that prevents tiny defects from forming, allowing electrical charges to flow more efficiently and preventing the devices from degrading under heat or light.
Using this approach, the team developed solar cells with a power conversion efficiency of 25.4%, while maintaining over 95% of performance after 1,100 hours of continuous operation at 85°C under full sunlight.
Professor Anthopoulos said: “Perovskite solar cells are seen as a cheaper, lightweight and flexible alternative to traditional silicon panels, but they have faced challenges with long-term stability. Current state-of-the-art perovskite materials are known to be unstable under heat or light, causing the cells to degrade faster. The amidinium ligands we’ve developed, and the new knowledge gained, allow the controlled growth of high-quality, stable perovskite layers. This could overcome one of the last major hurdles facing perovskite solar cell technology and ensure it lasts long enough for large-scale deployment.”
This research was published in the journal Science
Full title: Multivalent ligands regulate dimensional engineering for inverted perovskite solar modules
DOI: 10.1126/science.aea0656
URL: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aea0656
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