Perovskite applications - Page 17

Researchers from Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, USA, Nepal and China have explored the fascinating structural, optical, and electronic features of calcium nitrogen iodide (Ca₃NI₃) as an attractive material for developing absorbers for efficient and reasonably priced solar cells. 

Potential applications as an absorber layer in heterostructure solar cells for the perovskite material Ca₃NI₃ have been thoroughly studied theoretically. For the Ca₃NI₃ absorber-based cell structure with CdS as the ETL layer, the best PV values were discovered using the SCAPS-1D simulator. Working temperatures, interface densities of active materials, doping densities, and layer thicknesses were all carefully considered while analyzing the PV performance. 

Perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) have considerable potential as next-generation display materials thanks to their excellent photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), wide color gamut, and narrow emission bandwidth. However, due to their weak stability against solvents, their patterning remains a challenge. In a recent study, researchers at Ajou University, Hanyang University, Sungkyunkwan University, Macquarie University and Kongju National University developed functional organic ligands (AzL1-Th and AzL2-Th) for the fine pixelation of perovskite nanocrystal (PNC) displays. 

Functional ligands containing photocurable azide moieties exhibit good charge transport properties and fast and efficient photocrosslinking performance, while maintaining a high PLQY. The team successfully demonstrated the crosslinked PNC light emitting diodes using AzL1-Th. The results suggest the high potential of photocurable ligands for the micro-patterning of PNC films without film damages.

Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Chinese Academy of Sciences and University of Colorado (CU Boulder) have reported an innovative method to manufacture perovskite solar cells. 

A major challenge in commercializing perovskite solar cells at a commercial scale is the process of coating the semiconductor onto the glass plates which are the building blocks of panels. Currently, the coating process has to take place in a small box filled with non-reactive gas, such as nitrogen, to prevent the perovskites from reacting with oxygen, which decreases their performance. “This is fine at the research stage. But when you start coating large pieces of glass, it gets harder and harder to do this in a nitrogen filled box,” said Michael McGehee, a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and fellow with CU Boulder’s Renewable & Sustainable Energy Institute. 

Researchers at the University of Surrey, University of Cambridge and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xidian University, and Zhengzhou University have developed a novel approach for bifacial perovskite devices using single-walled carbon nanotubes as both front and back electrodes.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes offer high transparency, conductivity, and stability, enabling bifacial PSCs with a bifaciality factor of over 98% and a power generation density of over 36%. 

Researchers at CAS (Chinese Academy of Sciences) and Henan University have developed a nanomaterial-regulated doping strategy to pre-oxidize spiro-OMeTAD into radicals in the precursor solution with tin sulfoxide (SnSO) nanomaterials prepared at high temperature. The team increased the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to 24.5% using the inorganic SnSO as a dopant to oxidize and regulate the organic hole transport layer 2,2′,7,7′-tetrakis[N,N-di(4-methoxyphenyl)amino]-9,9-spirobifluorene (spiro-OMeTAD).

Spiro-OMeTAD is an important hole transport layer (HTL) material. To enhance the charge transport capability of spiro-OMeTAD, lithium trifluoromethanesulfonyl imide (Li-TFSI) is required to mediate the reaction between oxygen and spiro-OMeTAD. However, this traditional doping method has low doping efficiency, and excessive Li-TFSI will remain in the spiro-OMeTAD film, leading to a decrease in the compactness and long-term conductivity of the film. The duration of the oxidation reaction usually takes 10 to 24 hours to reach the desired conductivity and work function. In this study, the researchers developed a fast and reproducible strategy to control the oxidation of the nanomaterial. They used SnSO nanomaterial to pre-oxidize spiro-OMeTAD to spiro-OMeTAD⁺TFSI^- free radicals in precursor solutions. This improved the conductivity, optimized the energy level position of HTL, and achieved a high PCE of 24.5%.

In a recent study by researchers from Henan University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the interface of indium tin oxide/electron transport layer (ITO/ETL) in n-i-p structured devices was targeted. Electron transport layers are typically fabricated using commercial nano tin dioxide, which often displays insufficient density. To combat this, the scientists employed the commonly used bathocuproine (BCP) material to treat the ITO/ETL interface. 

The incorporation of BCP diminishes the direct contact between the perovskite and ITO layers, while also passivating buried interface and adjusting the crystal orientation of perovskites. Furthermore, the substrate layer exhibits improved transparency, consequently elevating the utilization rate of light by perovskite.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge, University of Science and Technology of China, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Soochow University, OIST, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Victoria University of Wellington and Kyushu University have demonstrated efficient blue perovskite LEDs based on a mixed two-dimensional–three-dimensional perovskite and a multifunctional ionic additive that enables control over the reduced-dimensional phases, non-radiative recombination channels and spectral stability. 

The team reported a series of devices that emit efficient electroluminescence from mixed bromide/chloride quasi-three-dimensional regions, with external quantum efficiencies of up to 21.4% (at a luminance of 22 cd m^–2 and emission peak at 483 nm), 13.2% (at a luminance of 2.0 cd m^–2 and emission peak at 474 nm) and 7.3% (at a luminance of 6 cd m^–2 and emission peak at 464 nm). The devices showed a nearly 30-fold increase in operational stability compared with control LEDs, with a half-lifetime of 129 min at an initial luminance of 100 cd m^–2. 

Macnica, a Technology Solutions Partner that provides products, services, and solutions, has announced a new type of air quality sensor that uses perovskite solar cells and semi-solid batteries. The sensor uses perovskite solar cells from EneCoat Technologies, a startup from Kyoto University.

It was reported that for several years, an indoor perovskite solar cell effectiveness demonstration project has been taking place in the company's office in Tokyo. Through this demonstration project, it was reportedly demonstrated that the technology can become a sustainable energy source in the future, including use under low illumination, and data on various issues was gathered toward the practical application of perovskite solar cells.

An international collaboration between scientists from CSIRO, University of Cambridge and others has resulted in a new efficiency record for fully roll-to-roll printed solar cells.

According to the team, the cells achieved “power conversion efficiencies of up to 15.5% for individual small-area cells and 11.0% for serially-interconnected cells”.

A large international group of researchers worked together to form a balanced viewpoint on the prospects of vapor-based processing of perovskite PV on an industrial scale. 

Their perspective highlights the conceptual advantages of vapor phase deposition, discusses the most crucial process parameters in a technology assessment, contains an overview about relevant global industry clusters, and provides an outlook on the commercialization perspectives of the perovskite technology in general.