Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin, University of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have addressed the question of how lattice dynamics in layered hybrid perovskites are affected by the dimensional engineering of the inorganic frameworks and their interaction with the molecular moieties. 

The team tackled this question by using a combination of spontaneous Raman scattering, terahertz spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations. This approach reveals the structural dynamics in and out of equilibrium and provides unexpected observables that differentiate single- and double-layered perovskites.

Researchers from Duke University and North Carolina State University have reported glass formation for low-melting-temperature 1-MeHa₂PbI₄ (1-MeHa = 1-methyl-hexylammonium) using ultrafast calorimetry, thereby extending the range of metal halide perovskite (MHP) glass formation across a broader range of organic (fused ring to branched aliphatic) and halide (bromide to iodide) compositions. 

A few years ago, Akash Singh and collaborators at Duke University set out to explore the realm of glassy perovskites, a departure from the traditionally studied crystalline perovskites. Since then, this topic sparked interest, resulting in the establishment of a novel research domain centered around glass-forming hybrid perovskite semiconductors with reversible switching. This recent discovery of glass formation in MHPs opens new opportunities associated with reversible glass-crystalline switching, with each state offering distinct optoelectronic properties. However, the previously reported [S-(−)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium]₂PbBr₄ perovskite is a strong glass former with sluggish glass-crystal transformation time scales, pointing to a need for glassy MHPs with a broader range of compositions and crystallization kinetics.   

A collaborative effort by researchers from the Centre for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy (CHOSE), Department of Electronic Engineering at Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy, the Department of Textile Engineering at the University of Guilan, Iran, GreatCell Solar Italia, Institute of Crystallography (IC-CNR), Italy, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies at the University of Salento, Italy and Institute of Nanotechnology (CNR NANOTEC), Italy, has resulted in the development of flexible perovskite solar cells with remarkable power conversion efficiencies (PCE) under white LED illumination.

The team achieved a maximum PCE of 28.9% at an illuminance of 200 lx and a record of 32.5% at 1000 lx, essentially converting a third of the incoming power (note that under 1 sun this figure for perovskite technology is less, i.e. one quarter).

Caelux has concluded a Series A3 funding round, securing $12 million. The funding was spearheaded by Temasek, a prominent global investment company, and attracted participation from entities such as Reliance New Energy (which owns a 20% stake in Caelux), Khosla Ventures, Mitsui Fudosan, and Fine Structure Ventures.

This new funding round contributes to a total of $24 million raised for the Series A stage. The influx of capital will be primarily channeled towards supporting Caelux’s factory expansion, intensive research and development efforts, and the forthcoming product launch. 

Microquanta has reported that its novel perovskite-based PV power station is now connected to the grid. The Company referred to it as a "perovskite commercial rooftop power station", erected over the water for fish farming applications. 

The perovskite power station is located in Qujiang district, Quzhou City, which is rich in water sources and farming. According to local conditions, it adopts the "onboard power generation and offboard farming" model. The installed capacity of the first phase is around 260 kW. The owner is Qujiang Construction Investment. 

Researchers from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a highly efficient organometal halide perovskites (OHP)-based photoanode using a rational design approach, which addresses current limitations.

Currently, hydrogen is mainly produced by natural gas, which also generates greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide as by-products. It is argued that hydrogen produced this way, while economical, is not truly sustainable, and thus requires a more eco-friendly approach for its generation. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting based on solar energy is one such promising approach. However, its widespread application is limited by a lack of efficient photoanodes for catalyzing the rate-limiting oxygen evolution reaction (OER), an important reaction in PEC water splitting. Organometal halide perovskites (OHPs) have emerged as a promising photoanode material on this front. Unfortunately, OHP-based photoanodes suffer from two undesired losses that limit their efficiency. One is an internal loss resulting from a recombination of photogenerated charge carriers (required for electricity generation) within the anode itself, which, in turn, hinders water splitting. The other is external loss due to the slow reaction kinetics of water splitting, resulting in a loss of charge carriers at the interface of the anode and electrolyte. These are the challenges tackled by the team in this recent work.

Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis and  Florida State University have developed a versatile, scalable and eco-friendly handwriting approach to draw multicolor perovskite light-emitting diodes and perovskite photodetectors on various substrates, including paper, textiles, plastics, elastomers, rubber and three-dimensional objects. 

The team's method uses common ballpoint pens filled with newly formulated inks of conductive polymers, metal nanowires and multiple perovskites for a wide range of emission colors. Just like writing with multicolored pens, writing layer-by-layer with these functional inks enables perovskite optoelectronic devices to be realized within minutes.

Researchers from China's Westlake University, Zhejiang University, Binzhou University and U.S-based Purdue University have reported the synthesis of a series of 2D tin perovskite bulk crystals with high phase purity via a mixed-solvent strategy. 

Ruddlesden-Popper tin halide perovskites are a class of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors with exceptional optoelectronic properties, high carrier mobility, and low toxicity. However, the team aimed to address the issue of their challenging synthesis and the lack of fundamental understanding of their optoelectronic properties (compared to their lead counterparts). 

Researchers from Zhengzhou University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have devised a novel lead capturing technique for perovskite solar cells: they implanted a multifunctional mesoporous amino-grafted-carbon net into the perovskite solar cells, creating biomimetic cage traps that could effectively mitigate Pb leakage and shield from external invasion under extreme weather conditions. 

The team then explored the synergistic Pb capturing mechanism in terms of chemical chelation and physical adsorption. Additionally, the Pb contamination assessment of end-of-life perovskite solar cells in the real-world ecosystem, including Yellow River water and soil, was proposed by the scientists. 

Researchers at imec and University of Hasselt at Energyville, Belgium, recently set out to improve two key perovskite interfaces for solar cells for efficiency and lifetime.

The work focusses on the upper interface between the perovskite and the fullerene-C60 electron transport layer and the lower interface between the perovskite and the NiOx-based hole transport layer.