Perovskite materials

A team of researchers from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have developed a closed process for finding optimal high-performance materials for perovskite solar cells (PSC). The approach introduced in the study combines computer-assisted modeling, autonomous synthesis platforms and quantum theoretical calculations for characterizing molecules in order to be able to predict suitable material combinations and to test them in an automated fashion.

“What is the best way to find new materials for photovoltaic components that already have the optimal properties for this application?” This is the question that Prof. Christoph Brabec, speaker of the FAU Profile Center Solar and Chair of Materials Science and Engineering, has spent over a year exploring together with 22 researchers from the disciplines of chemistry, materials science and engineering, computer science and electrical engineering.

Sofab Inks develops and produces advanced materials for perovskite solar cells. The company's flagship product is a solvent-based tin oxide ETL  that has already seen promising results in improving the performance and lifespan of perovskite solar cells. We interviewed the company's CEO Blake Martin and COO Jack Manzella, who help us understand the company's materials and business better. Click here to contact Sofab Inks to learn more or request a material sample.

Hello Blake and Jack. Earlier this year, Sofab Inks launched Tinfab, a high-performance and low-cost ETL material for perovskite solar cells. Can you detail the market reaction for your new material, and also the performance benefits that one can expect from this new ETL?

Since launching Tinfab, we’ve experienced significant interest across the industry, with approximately 40 companies and universities currently testing the material in perovskite solar cell applications. This strong engagement underscores the market's demand for innovative, scalable ETL solutions.

Tinfab is designed to fully replace C60/fullerenes in perovskite solar cells, addressing key limitations of C60, including lower stability, higher costs, and the complexity of vacuum deposition. Unlike C60, Tinfab can be solution-deposited in ambient environments, making it far more suitable for scalable manufacturing.

Researchers from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, led by Associate Professor Nripan Mathews of NTU’s School of Materials Science and Engineering, have synthesized four unique types of 2D halide perovskites.

Dr. Ayan Zhumekenov, a research fellow at the school and lead author of the study, used a novel approach to create the new perovskites by incorporating dimethyl carbonate – a non-toxic solvent – into methylammonium-based perovskite crystals. By analyzing the new crystal structures, the scientists discovered that the structures’ band gap could be tuned by adjusting the ratio of methylammonium to dimethyl carbonate in them. The band gap, which determines 
the color of the material, is the energy required for an electron to break free from its bound state and become conductive.

Tokyo Chemical Industry (TCI), a global supplier of laboratory chemicals and specialty materials, is now offering Phenylethylamine Hydroiodides materials, used for surface treatment of perovskite layers in solar panels. These materials improve the stability of the solar panels.

Research has shown that by applying the Phenylethylamine Hydroiodides materials, one can expect improved stability of over 90%. In one research, the 1,2-Benzenediethanamine Dihydroiodide was applied to a perovskite PV device (FTO/TiO2/SnO2/perovskite/Amine Iodide/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au), and achieved an increase in stability of over 90% after 1,100 hours. See here for more info.

Researchers from Sweden's Chalmers University of Technology recently gained new insights into the dynamics of prototypical 2D halide perovskites (HPs) based on MAPbI₃ as a function of linker molecule and the number of perovskite layers using atomic-scale simulations.

The team showed that the layers closest to the linker undergo transitions that are distinct from those of the interior layers. These transitions can take place anywhere between a few tens of Kelvin degrees below and more than 100 K above the cubic–tetragonal transition of bulk MAPbI₃. 

Researchers from EPFL, University of Bern and HZB have introduced a new lead-halide-based Ruddlesden–Popper perovskite structure based on a visible-light-absorbing naphthalene-iminoimide cation. The team stated that the optoelectronic properties of this new material represent an important step toward enhancing light harvesting and affording the spatial separation of charge carrier transport in stable layered perovskite-based devices.

Incorporating organic semiconductor building blocks as spacer cations into layered hybrid perovskites provides an opportunity to develop new materials with novel optoelectronic properties, including nanoheterojunctions that afford spatial separation of electron and hole transport. However, identifying organics with suitable structure and electronic energy levels to selectively absorb visible light has been a challenge in the field. In their recent paper, the team introduced a new lead-halide-based Ruddlesden–Popper perovskite structure based on a visible-light-absorbing naphthalene-iminoimide cation (NDI-DAE).

Researchers from Duke University, University of Colorado - Boulder, Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science, Polish Academy of Sciences and University of Lille CNRS have examined the local structure of halide perovskites in their molten and glassy states, revealing the critical connection between these structures and the contrasting properties observed in their crystalline vs glassy states. 

The findings of this work enhance scientists' understanding of the diverse structural motifs in perovskites and how structural changes in perovskite glass impact their properties, paving the way for advancements in next-generation phase change materials and devices.

Researchers from China's Hebei University of Technology have developed a scalable method combining physical thermal field and chemical bonding to fabricate inch-sized FAPbI₃ wafers. By integrating 120 °C hot-pressing to stabilize the photoactive α phase and polyaniline polymer to conduct and passivate the grain boundaries, the team obtained quasi-single crystal FAPbI₃ wafers on a large scale. 

This approach reportedly overcomes the critical challenges of phase impurities and high-density defects, enhancing the phase stability of the FAPbI₃ wafers. 

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and QinetiQ could pave the way for faster discovery of novel perovskite materials with desirable properties for applications in wireless communication and biosensors. The recent research introduces an automated platform for rapid sintering and dielectric characterization of perovskite solid solutions. This innovative approach integrates machine learning (ML) for material screening with robotic synthesis and high-throughput characterization.

The scientists stated that while accelerating perovskite solid solution discovery and sustainable synthesis is crucial for addressing challenges in wireless communication and biosensors, the vast array of chemical compositions and their dependence on factors such as crystal structure and sintering temperature require time-consuming manual processes. To overcome these constraints, they introduced an automated materials discovery approach encompassing machine learning (ML) assisted material screening, robotic synthesis, and high-throughput characterization. 

Researchers from China's Huaqiao University and Qufu Normal University recently introduced new materials that promise to enhance the efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Their study details the development of three novel hole transport materials that may improve solar cell performance.

Image credit: Energy Materials and Devices

The team said that the high price of charge transport materials for perovskite solar cells poses a barrier to widespread adoption. Traditional materials like Spiro-OMeTAD are expensive and complex to produce, making it essential to find more affordable alternatives to advance PSC technology and expand its use.