Solar Energy
Breakthrough in tin-based perovskite solar cells achieves 11 percent power conversion efficiency
Breakthrough in tin-based perovskite solar cells achieves 11 percent power conversion efficiency
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 24, 2024
In the rapidly evolving field of solar energy, tin perovskite solar cells have emerged as a significant area of interest, particularly for their potential in creating lead-free alternatives. A recent development from the Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, led by Prof. Ligang Xu, has marked a notable advancement in this sector.
Their research, focusing on overcoming the challenges of deep-level traps in tin perovskite solar cells, has been highlighted in their paper, “Suppression of deep-level traps via semicarbazide hydrochloride additives for high-performance tin-based perovskite solar cells,” published on December 29, 2023, in Frontiers of Optoelectronics.
Deep-level traps in tin perovskite solar cells, predominantly caused by Sn vacancies and undercoordinated Sn ions, have been a persistent issue. These traps lead to non-radiative recombination and the absorption of nucleophilic O2 molecules, both of which significantly impede the efficiency and stability of these devices.
Addressing this challenge, the research introduces a novel method – the integration of semicarbazide hydrochloride (SEM-HCl) into the tin perovskite precursor. This technique has been instrumental in fabricating high-quality perovskite films with a markedly low concentration of deep-level traps.
The SEM-HCl plays a dual role in enhancing the quality of tin perovskite films. Firstly, it diminishes the quantity of uncoordinated Sn2+ ions on the surface, and secondly, it modulates the intrinsic Sn deep-level defects. This comprehensive modulation is key to enhancing device performance.
The O=C-N functional group in SEM-HCl forms coordination interactions with charge defects of the tin perovskites. This interaction intensifies the electron cloud density surrounding the defects, thereby enlarging vacancy formation energies. This approach is crucial in reducing the deep-level trap state density, which originates from undercoordinated Sn2+ ions and Sn4+ oxidation.
By effectively reducing nonradiative recombination and extending the charge lifetime, the tin-based perovskite solar cells (TPSCs) achieve a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) approaching 11%, a significant stride in the realm of solar cell technology.
An equally impressive feat is the stability of these newly developed cells. The unencapsulated devices maintained almost 100% of their initial efficiencies after operating for 100 hours under AM1.5 illumination conditions. This level of stability, coupled with the improved efficiency, marks a significant step forward in the practical application of tin-based perovskite solar cells.
Prof. Ligang Xu’s team has effectively addressed one of the major hurdles in the development of efficient and stable tin perovskite solar cells. By employing SEM-HCl, they have not only improved the performance of these cells but also opened new avenues for further research and development in lead-free perovskite solar cells. This advancement aligns well with the global shift towards sustainable and environmentally friendly energy solutions, offering a promising future for solar technology.
The implications of this research extend beyond the academic realm into the commercial and environmental sectors. With increasing concern over the use of lead in perovskite solar cells, the development of efficient lead-free alternatives is crucial. The approach demonstrated by Prof. Ligang Xu and his team represents a significant step in this direction, potentially paving the way for more widespread adoption of solar energy as a clean and renewable resource.
Related Links
Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com
DGIST enhances quantum dot solar cell performance
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Oct 04, 2024
A research team led by Professor Jongmin Choi from the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at DGIST, in collaboration with Gyeongsang National University’s Professor Tae Kyung Lee and Kookmin University’s Professor Younghoon Kim, has developed a new method that significantly boosts the performance and longevity of perovskite quantum dot solar cells. Their innovative approach addresses a key issue: surface distortions on quantum dots that hinder solar cell efficiency.
Perovskite quantum dots are widely regarded as essential for next-generation solar cells due to their high light-to-electricity conversion efficiency and scalability. However, the process of replacing the “ligands” on their surface often causes distortions, akin to crumpled paper, that degrade solar cell performance.
The research team tackled this problem by introducing short ligands that firmly grip both sides of the quantum dots. This method effectively restores the quantum dot’s distorted surface, resembling the process of flattening crumpled paper. By smoothing the surface, they significantly reduced defects and improved both the performance and the stability of the solar cells. The power conversion efficiency rose from 13.6% to 15.3%, and the cells maintained 83% of their performance over 15 days, marking a major advancement in solar cell technology.
“Through this research, we could minimize surface defects on the quantum dots and stabilize their surfaces by newly adopting these amphiphilic ligands, thereby significantly improving the efficiency and stability of the solar cells,” explained Professor Jongmin Choi. He also noted the team’s intention to extend this approach to other photoelectric devices in the future.
This study, a collaborative effort by DGIST, Gyeongsang National University, and Kookmin University, was supported by the National Research Council of Science and Technology, the DGIST R and D Program, and the New Faculty Research Foundation at Gyeongsang National University. The findings were published in the ‘Chemical Engineering Journal’ on September 15, 2024.
Research Report:Multifaceted anchoring ligands for uniform orientation and enhanced cubic-phase stability of perovskite quantum dots
Related Links
Philippines’ Marcos opens first EV battery plant
by AFP Staff Writers
Manila (AFP) Sept 30, 2024
President Ferdinand Marcos inaugurated on Monday the first factory for electric vehicle batteries in the Philippines, calling it the “future” of clean energy.
The Australian-owned lithium-iron-phosphate factory aims to produce two gigawatt-hours of batteries per year by 2030, powering about 18,000 electric vehicles or nearly half a million home battery systems.
“We have worked very hard and tried to do our best to bring this kind of technology to the Philippines with a clear recognition that this is the future,” Marcos said in a livestreamed speech.
“As the first manufacturing plant in the Philippines for advanced iron phosphate batteries… (it) sets the stage for the Philippines to become a player in clean energy storage in our part of the world.”
Located in New Clark city north of Manila, the StB Giga Factory Inc. facility will create 2,500 local jobs and channel five billion pesos ($89.2 million) into the economy each year, Marcos said.
The investment aligns with the government’s efforts to “transition our country to renewable energy”, and would help Manila “entice more investors in renewable energy facilities in the country”, he added.
Related Links
Fire breaks out at Chinese battery giant CATL plant
by AFP Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) Sept 29, 2024
A fire broke out Sunday at a factory belonging to Chinese battery giant CATL, which supplies electric vehicle makers including Tesla, but only a “relatively small” impact on operations is expected, the company said.
A CATL spokesperson said no injuries or casualties had occurred at the plant in the coastal city of Ningde, and that “the reasons behind this accident are still under investigation”.
Emergency services were sent to the plant to fight the fire and to organise the evacuation of any people who were inside the 15,000 square metre (160,000 square feet) site, a statement by the Dongqiao Economic and Technological Development Zone said.
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze just before 11:30 AM local time (0330 GMT).
It was not immediately clear what was produced at the plant, CATL’s base in the eastern province of Fujian, but the company said the effect of the now extinguished fire would not be significant.
“The impact to CATL’s overall production operation is relatively small,” the spokesperson said.
Videos published by the Chinese business media outlet Cailianshe, and posted on the Weibo social network, showed parts of a large white building in flames with thick gray smoke rising into the air.
AFP could not immediately verify the authenticity of the images.
CATL was founded in 2011 and produces more than a third of the electric vehicle batteries sold worldwide for automakers that include Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Toyota, Honda and Hyundai.
ehl-reb/des
Related Links
-
Solar Energy3 years agoDLR testing the use of molten salt in a solar power plant in Portugal
-
world news11 months ago
Gulf, France aid Gaza, Russia evacuates citizens
-
Camera11 months agoDJI Air 3 vs. Mini 4 Pro: which compact drone is best?
-
Camera3 years agoCharles ‘Chuck’ Geschke, co-founder of Adobe and inventor of the PDF, dies at 81
-
Solar Energy11 months agoGlencore eyes options on battery recycling project
-
world news11 months ago
Strong majority of Americans support Israel-Hamas hostage deal
-
Camera11 months agoSony a9 III: what you need to know
-
TOP SCEINCE6 months agoCan animals count?
