Longer-lasting, more efficient lead-tin perovskite solar cells achieved

Although silicon solar panels are used on many roofs today, perovskite and silicon solar panels are appearing on the market, and it is expected that the next big step in this technology will be the manufacture of panels based entirely on perovskite and with efficiencies. even greater. However, for this technology to be commercially viable, the challenge of improving both stability and efficiency must first be overcome, especially in the case of lead-tin perovskite solar cells.

An international team led by Hashini Perera, from the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, has identified a strategy to improve both the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells.

These researchers have managed to produce lead-tin perovskite solar cells that achieve more than 23 percent power conversion efficiency, one of the best results achieved with this material and, more importantly, a design strategy that improves the useful life of these devices by 66 percent. Power conversion efficiency refers to the amount of sunlight a cell can convert into usable electricity.

The improvements have been achieved because the team has identified mechanisms that contribute to both efficiency and stability losses.

This advance brings us closer to solar panels that not only generate a greater amount of energy throughout their useful life, but are also more durable. Greater energy efficiency and fewer substitutions mean more clean energy with less waste.

Perovskite solar cell. (Photo: University of Surrey)

Perera and his colleagues present the technical details of their improvements in the academic journal Energy & Environmental Science, under the title “23.2% efficient low band gap perovskite solar cells with cyanogen management.” (Fountain: NCYT by Amazings)