January 2024

A research team from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has reported a PV module using perovskite silicon tandem solar cells from Oxford PV with an efficiency of 25% and an out-put of 421 watts on an area of 1.68 square meters, stating it is a record efficiency for a silicon perovskite tandem solar module in industrial format. 

For the manufacturing process, the researchers used equipment at Fraunhofer ISE's Module-TEC that is already used in mass production and optimized the processes for the tandem technology.

Switzerland-based Perovskia recently announced it is establishing a factory in Aubonne, Switzerland, to produce a million custom-designed perovskite devices annually. 

Perovskia is a spinoff of the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA). It was founded to develop the market for customized perovskite solar devices as battery replacements. 

Researchers at the University of North Texas, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of North Carolina, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL),  University of Oklahoma and NASA Glenn Research Center set out to deepen the understanding of perovskite photovoltaics' ability to recover, or heal, after radiation damage, by studying the effects of radiation based on different energy loss mechanisms from incident protons which induce defects or can promote efficiency recovery.

Dual dose irradiation experiments. Image from Nature Communications

The team designed a dual dose experiment first exposing devices to low-energy protons efficient in creating atomic displacements. Devices were then irradiated with high-energy protons that interact differently. Correlated with modeling, high-energy protons (with increased ionizing energy loss component) effectively anneal the initial radiation damage, and recover the device efficiency, thus directly detailing the different interactions of irradiation.

A research team, led by Northwestern scientists, has developed a method that could moves perovskite solar cells closer to industry adoption and widespread use. Using liquid crystals that can respond to temperature change and avoid accumulating precipitation, the group enabled the protection of large-area perovskite films. 

This approach led to a 22% efficiency and a stabilized efficiency of 21% for solar modules with enhanced damp heat (85% relative humidity at 85 degrees Celsius) stability and a size of 31 sq. centimeters.

Researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Princeton University, Marmara University, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and Nano-C have designed a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell with a top inverted perovskite cell relying on an electron transport layer (ETL) made of thermally evaporated buckminsterfullerene (C60).

In the “p-i-n” device structure, hole-selective contact p is at the bottom of intrinsic perovskite layer i with electron transport layer n at the top. Conventional halide perovskite cells have the same structure but reversed – a “n-i-p” layout. In n-i-p architecture, the solar cell is illuminated through the electron-transport layer (ETL) side; in the p-i-n structure, it is illuminated through the hole‐transport layer (HTL) surface.

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory and Purdue University recently reported an effort to prevent perovskite solar cell degradation by tracking the movement of ions in perovskites. 

The team used X-rays at the Advanced Photon Source and a custom-built characterization platform to reveal the way ions move within different perovskite crystals under ultraviolet radiation (UV). Scientists are interested in testing material stability under UV because it can significantly degrade solar cell performance, sometimes by more than 50%, after extended exposure.

Researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) and Korea University have reported efficient, stable tin–lead halide perovskites (TLHP)-based PV and photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices containing a chemically protective cathode interlayer—amine-functionalized perylene diimide (PDINN). Their work may advance the commercialization of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and have potential in green hydrogen production technology, ensuring long-term operation with high efficiency. 

The presence of inherent ionic vacancies in tin-lead halide perovskites (TLHPs) has posed challenges, leading to accelerated device degradation through inward metal diffusion. To address this challenge, the research team developed the chemically protective cathode interlayer using amine-functionalized perylene diimide (PDINN). By leveraging its nucleophilic sites to form tridentate metal complexes, PDINN effectively extracts electrons and suppresses inward metal diffusion.

Swiss additive manufacturing startup Scrona and Avantama, developer and manufacturer of high-tech materials for electronics, have jointly announced that they have successfully processed high-performance perovskite quantum dot (QD) ink using Scrona's electrohydrodynamic (EHD) inkjet printing. 

This collaboration combines the benefits of the inkjet process with high-patterning resolution to drive a new generation of efficient and cost effective MicroLED displays, while also increasing color purity and brightness, and improving overall pixel production tact time. 

Perovskite-Info is happy to announce the 2024 edition of The Perovskite Handbook. This book is a comprehensive guide to perovskite materials, applications and industry. Perovskites are an exciting class of materials that feature a myriad of exciting properties and are considered the future of solar cells, displays, sensors, LEDs and more. The handbook is now updated to January 2024 and lists recent developments and new companies, initiatives and research activities.

Reading this book, you'll learn all about:

• Different perovskite materials, their properties and structure
• How perovskites can be made, tuned and used
• What kinds of applications perovskites may be suitable for
• What the obstacles on the way to a perovskite revolution are
• Perovskite solar cells, their merits and challenges
• Perovskite QDs, LEDs, and other applications
• The state of the perovskite market, potential and future

The book also provides: a history of perovskite research, a guide to perovskite companies and developers, information on leading collaboration and development projects, a comprehensive list of perovskite companies, market updates and much more!

Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Avantama have developed a new interface using antimony doped tin oxides (ATOx), that creates a chemically stable interface between the cell layers that's more uniform, conducts electricity better, and is more transparent. This enabled reduced energy loss and improved cell efficiency - 25.7% (certified steady-state efficiency of 24.8%) for an area of 0.05 cm², retained under maximum power point tracking over 500 h and 24.6% (certified steady-state efficiency of 24.0%) for an area of 1 cm².

The team reported p-type antimony-doped tin oxides (ATOx) combined with a self-assembled monolayer molecule as an interlayer between the perovskite and hole-transporting layers (HTL) in inverted solar cells. The scientists said that ATOx increases the chemical stability of the interface; they showed that the redox reaction that commonly took place at the NiOx/perovskite interface is negligible at the ATOx/perovskite interface.