Perovskite materials

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.

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) recently gained better understanding of the origin of halide perovskites' extraordinary carrier lifetimes, by showing that halide perovskites are governed by unconventional electron–phonon physics, leading to the formation of topological polarons, a class of phonon-mediated electron/hole quasiparticles. 

The team's findings suggest that halide perovskites may be regarded as a class of quantum materials where electron–phonon couplings replace the traditional electron–electron interactions of correlated electron systems.

Researchers from China's Nankai University and Linköping University in Sweden have attempted to design a perovskite solar cell with the help of ChatGPT. The experiment helped the team to identify a series of materials for the cell composition and the results were cells with a higher power conversion efficiency compared to that of reference cells built without the material proposed by ChatGPT.

The scientists explored ChatGPT's ability to generate hypotheses for material science and identify untested molecules capable of reducing surface recombination and thereby boosting the efficiency of perovskite solar cells.

Canon has announced that it has developed a high-performance material which is expected to improve the durability and mass-production stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The Company aims to initiate mass production in 2025.

Canon stated that several issues are currently standing in the way of PSC commercialization. For one, the crystal structure of the perovskite layer (photoelectric conversion layer) is susceptible to the effects of water, heat, oxygen, etc. in the atmosphere, which results in low durability. Furthermore, it is difficult to achieve stable mass production when manufacturing perovskite solar cells with a large surface area. It has been recognized that a structure covering the perovskite layer is needed to solve these problems. Therefore, Canon developed a special functional material to coat the perovskite layer by applying the material technology it cultivated through the development of photosensitive members, a key component of multifunction office devices and laser printers.