Solar Energy

HKUST Researchers Unveil Hidden Structure for Enhanced Perovskite Solar Cells

Published

6 months ago

July 21, 2024

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HKUST Researchers Unveil Hidden Structure for Enhanced Perovskite Solar Cells

by Simon Mansfield

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 22, 2024

Researchers from the School of Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have discovered surface concavities on individual crystal grains in perovskite thin films. This fundamental discovery reveals significant effects on the properties and reliability of the films. Leveraging this knowledge, the team developed a new method to enhance the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells by eliminating these grain surface concavities.

Perovskite solar cells are a promising technology that could replace silicon solar cells across various applications, including grid electricity, portable power, and space photovoltaics. They offer higher power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) than commercial silicon cells and have advantages such as low material costs, sustainable manufacturing, and versatility in transparency and color. However, the stability of perovskite devices under light, humidity, and thermomechanical conditions has hindered their commercialization.

To tackle this challenge, Prof. ZHOU Yuanyuan, Associate Professor of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at HKUST, and his research group conducted a study focusing on the microstructure of materials. They discovered numerous surface concavities at the crystalline grains of the perovskite material. These concavities disrupt the structural continuity at the perovskite film interface, acting as a hidden microstructure factor that limits the efficiency and stability of perovskite cells.

The team innovatively removed the grain surface concavities using a surfactant molecule, tridecafluorohexane-1-sulfonic acid potassium, to manage strain evolution and ion diffusion during the formation of perovskite films. Consequently, their perovskite cells showed marked improvements in efficiency retention during standardized thermal cycling, damp heat, and maximum-power-point tracking tests.

“Structure and geometry of individual crystalline grains are the origin of the performance of perovskite semiconductors and solar cells. By unveiling the grain surface concavities, understanding their effects, and leveraging chemical engineering to tailor their geometry, we are pioneering a new way of making perovskite solar cells with efficiency and stability toward their limits,” said Prof. Zhou, the corresponding author of this work.

“We were very intrigued by the surface concavities of perovskite grains when we were using atomic force microscopy to examine the structural details of perovskite films. These concavities are usually buried underneath the film bottom and easily be overlooked,” he added.

“Microstructure is of vital importance for perovskite solar cells and other optoelectronic devices, and can be more complex than conventional materials owing to the hybrid organic-inorganic characteristics of perovskite materials. Under Prof. Zhou’s guidance, we are able to develop various novel characterization and data science approaches to gain insights into perovskite microstructure,” said ZHANG Yalan, a PhD student in Prof. Zhou’s research group and a co-author of this work.

The team’s research, titled “Elimination of Grain Surface Concavities for Improved Perovskite Thin-Film Interfaces,” has been published in the prestigious journal Nature Energy. The study was conducted in collaboration with Hong Kong Baptist University and Yale University.

Research Report:Elimination of grain surface concavities for improved perovskite thin-film interfaces

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Solar Energy

University of Maryland to develop renewable energy systems for ocean monitoring systems

Published

2 hours ago

January 3, 2025

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University of Maryland to develop renewable energy systems for ocean monitoring systems

by Clarence Oxford

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 03, 2025

University of Maryland researcher Stephanie Lansing has been awarded $7.8 million from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to spearhead the development of a biologically powered energy system aimed at transforming power generation for ocean monitoring devices worldwide.

Current ocean monitoring devices, essential for understanding marine ecosystems, tracking climate change, and maintaining national security, rely heavily on lithium-ion batteries or extensive underwater cables for power. Lansing’s groundbreaking project aims to replace these conventional systems by harnessing microorganisms and specialized bacteria to fuel a marine microbial energy source capable of delivering a steady 10-watt output for over a year.

“This unique collaboration of interdisciplinary experts will produce a bioinspired system that has game-changing potential to provide direct electric power to improve sensing capabilities while protecting and limiting the impact to the environment through use of this unique bioenergy system,” explained Lansing, a professor in UMD’s Department of Environmental Science and Technology.

The system, known as the Persistent Oceanographic Device Power (PODPower), employs a sophisticated mechanism that gathers ocean microbes and organic material into a specialized fermentation chamber. Bacteria in this chamber pre-process the material into an efficient “fuel” for other bacteria colonizing the electrodes of the microbial fuel cell, generating usable electricity.

Key design features include a fish-gill-inspired collection net, a corkscrew-shaped auger for organic matter transport, and a dual cathode system to enhance energy output. These innovations are expected to overcome limitations of earlier microbial fuel cell technologies.

Funded under DARPA’s BioLogical Undersea Energy (BLUE) program, PODPower aligns with initiatives to exploit ocean biomass for sustainable power solutions. Beyond the $7.8 million allocated for Phase 1 development through 2026, an additional $3.4 million may be granted for Phase 2, aimed at generating 100 watts of power and deploying systems across multiple environments.

The project involves collaboration with experts from Battelle, George Washington University, Harvard University, UMD Baltimore County’s Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), James Madison University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Delaware, and Yokogawa Corporation of America.

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Solar Energy

Unveiling the impact of climate-driven low solar and wind energy events in China

Published

2 hours ago

January 3, 2025

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Unveiling the impact of climate-driven low solar and wind energy events in China

by Clarence Oxford

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 03, 2025

A groundbreaking study spearheaded by Dr. Yue Qin and Dr. Tong Zhu from Peking University has offered critical insights into the spatiotemporal dynamics and underlying causes of compound low-solar-low-wind (LSLW) extremes in China. Through advanced climate modeling and diagnostic techniques, this research sheds light on a growing challenge for renewable energy systems.

“Our results suggest that under compound LSLW extremes, renewable energy generation could be significantly compromised,” explained Dr. Yue Qin. “Even more concerning, climate change could intensify the frequency of such events, escalating threats to China’s renewable energy supply and potentially hindering progress toward carbon neutrality.”

China’s ambitious target of carbon neutrality by 2060 hinges on expanding solar and wind energy, yet these renewable sources are inherently variable and sensitive to weather patterns. While extensive studies exist on individual renewable energy challenges, this study uniquely addresses the compounded effects of simultaneous low solar and wind energy availability, a critical but understudied issue.

The findings underscore a significant topographic influence on the occurrence of LSLW extremes, with a national average of 16.4 days annually. Particularly in eastern China, these events reduce renewable energy output by approximately 80% compared to typical conditions. Projections under various climate scenarios indicate a nationwide rise in the frequency of such events, with areas like the Tibetan Plateau and northwestern China predicted to experience substantial increases.

“In particular, a striking increase of compound LSLW extremes’ frequency occurs under SSP370 scenario with aerosol emissions increase due to the assumption of a lenient air quality policy,” said Licheng Wang, the study’s lead author. The study found that elevated aerosol levels play a major role by weakening wind speeds and reducing solar radiation.

The researchers also evaluated inter-grid electricity transmission as an adaptation strategy. Results show this approach could mitigate over 91% of the frequency and 59%-85% of the intensity of LSLW-induced energy failures. Xizang (Tibet) emerged as a key region for reducing LSLW-related renewable energy shortages across China. However, infrastructure constraints, including geographical and economic challenges, limit the development of high-voltage electricity transmission in this region. Enhancing renewable energy projects in Xizang could be vital for achieving China’s carbon neutrality goals.

Dr. Yue Qin emphasized the importance of informed planning: “By revealing the geospatial and temporal evolution of compound LSLW extremes and their underlying physical mechanisms under climate change, our study emphasizes that these events are not random but predictable. This underscores the importance of proactive preparation and mitigation to address this pressing challenge.”

Research Report:Unraveling climate change-induced compound low-solar-low-wind extremes in China

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Solar Energy

Solar powered self-charging supercapacitors introduced in Korea

Published

3 days ago

December 31, 2024

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Solar powered self-charging supercapacitors introduced in Korea

by Riko Seibo

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Dec 31, 2024

A collaborative research effort led by Jeongmin Kim, Senior Researcher at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), and Damin Lee, Researcher at Kyungpook National University’s RLRC, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in energy storage. The team successfully developed Korea’s first self-charging supercapacitor system by integrating solar energy technology with advanced supercapacitors, opening a new horizon for renewable energy applications.

The researchers addressed the limitations of traditional energy storage devices by employing transition metal-based materials for the electrodes. Specifically, they designed electrodes using a nickel-based carbonate and hydroxide composite material, further enhancing performance with the incorporation of metal ions such as Mn, Co, Cu, Fe, and Zn. This innovation led to substantial improvements in conductivity, stability, and overall efficiency.

The resulting device demonstrated an impressive energy density of 35.5 Wh kg-far surpassing previous benchmarks of 5-20 Wh kg. Additionally, the power density reached 2555.6 W kg, which is more than double the previous average of approximately 1000 W kg. This advancement allows for rapid energy delivery, making it suitable for high-power applications. Long-term durability was also validated, with minimal degradation observed across repeated charge-discharge cycles.

Taking the innovation further, the team developed a hybrid energy system combining silicon solar cells with supercapacitors. This integration enables real-time solar energy capture and storage, achieving a storage efficiency of 63% and an overall system efficiency of 5.17%. The combined system represents a key step toward commercializing self-charging energy technologies.

“This study is a significant achievement, as it marks the development of Korea’s first self-charging energy storage device combining supercapacitors with solar cells. By utilizing transition metal-based composite materials, we have overcome the limitations of energy storage devices and presented a sustainable energy solution,” said Jeongmin Kim, Senior Researcher at DGIST. Damin Lee of Kyungpook National University added, “We will continue to conduct follow-up research to further improve the efficiency of the self-charging device and enhance its potential for commercialization.”

Research Report:Design of high-performance binary carbonate/hydroxide Ni-based supercapacitors for photo-storage systems