Researchers from Lomonosov Moscow State University in Russia explained how changing the ratio of components forming the light-absorbing layer of a perovskite solar cell influences the structure of created films and battery efficiency.

Perovskites can be used to create perovskite solar batteries, which are a relatively new area of R&D, but are showing promise in terms of efficiency and function. In their previous work, the researchers found out that filiform (wire-like) hybrids of perovskites have acquired their shape because of the structure of intermediate compounds, which are formed during the process of perovskite crystallization. The team has discovered a whole group of these compounds, every one of which is a crystalline solvate. The crystalline solvates are crystalline compounds with the molecules of the precursor components' solvent built into their structure. The dissolved components precipitate from the solution and form a crystalline film of perovskite.

Researchers from KU Leuven from the Roeffaers Lab and the Hofkens Group have discovered a new way to create the sought-after dark alpha-phase perovskite. They used direct laser writing (tuned intense laser light) to locally heat the perovskite surface, making it change from the (useless) delta state to the (highly desirable) alpha state.

Furthermore, they also found that the material now remained in this state for many weeks, even at room temperature, without further need of a stabilizing treatment. The scientists further managed to use the laser beam to rapidly micro-fabricate complex patterns of the dark FAPbI3 state. "These findings are a big step forward in locally tailoring the structural, electrical, and optical properties of an important new class of materials and provides an avenue for making customised optical devices, all on demand".

Researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the US have developed a new technique for high speed voltage measurements at the atomic level using machine learning. The technique has reportedly been used for mapping surface voltage dynamics of a perovskite solar cell for the first time.

Atomic force microscopy can usually investigate slow or static material structures and functions. In AFM, a rastering probe maps a material's surface and captures physical and chemical properties but the probe is slow to respond to what it detects. Instead, the ORNL team created a fast free force recovery technique that uses advanced machine learning algorithms to analyze instantaneous tip motion to produce high-resolution images 3,500 times faster than standard AFM detection methods.