An HZB team at BESSY II recently analyzed the crystallization processes within optimized inks used for the production of metal-halide perovskite thin-films for photovoltaic modules . A model has also been developed to assess the kinetics of the crystallization processes for different solvent mixtures. The results could be of high importance for the further development of perovskite inks for industrial-scale deposition processes of these semiconductors.
For the production of larger area photovoltaic modules, the team of Dr. Eva Unger develops printing and coating processes in which the perovskite semiconductor is processed from inks containing the precursors dissolved in solvents. The composition of the ink determines the material formation mechanism with the solvent affecting the process by its rheological properties, evaporation rate and participation in intermediate phases. "Our research question in this project was: How can we rationalize the difference in crystallization kinetics when using different solvents," explains Unger, who heads the Young Investigator Group Hybrid Materials Formation and Scaling.
A Florida State University research team has addressed perovskite solar cells' stability issue by mixing the old with the new. Professor of Chemistry Biwu Ma and his team published a new study that shows if you add a layer of ancient organic pigment to a perovskite solar cell, it increases the stability and efficiency of the cell.
“Pigments are abundant, low cost and robust,” Ma said. “When we combine them with perovskites, we can generate new high-performance hybrid systems. It’s using the old with the new, and together they produce something really exciting.”
UK-based Quantum Solutions published this video below that demonstrates its latest perovskite QD film for LCD color conversion:
Quantum Solutions now offers its QDot SharpGreen Perovskite QDs Film, which is a polymer composite with embedded QDot SharpGreen Perovskite QDs. It is designed to be used in LCD backlighting units and sensor devices for X-rays and UV lights. The material has green emission 520-535 nm (depending on the concentration), high PLQY (up to 80-100 %) and narrow FWHM (< 20-22 nm). The company says that the films retain > 70-80 % of initial photoluminescence within 1000 hours of exposing by heat (85 °C and blue light 10 mW/cm2 exposure) and high relative humidity (90 % RH at 60 °C).
The EPFL launched a new project, supported by the Valais State Government with 5 million Swiss Francs, to realize a "demonstrator project" at EPFL-Sion Campus Energypolis.
Sized at the canton or district level, these installations will enable the testing of technologies developed in the laboratories of EPFL Valais-Wallis in real conditions, with the collaboration of local partners and the HES-SO Valais-Wallis.
Joint research work between Chemnitz University of Technology and Technische Universität Dresden has gained better understanding of the ionic defect landscape in metal halide perovskites. The researchers were able to identify essential properties of the ions that make up these materials. The migration of the ions leads to the presence of defects in the material, which have a negative effect on the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells. The working groups found that the motion of all observed ions, despite their different properties (such as positive or negative charge), follows a common transport mechanism and also allows the assignment of defects and ions (known as the Meyer-Neldel rule).
Artistic representation of an ionic defect landscape in the perovskites. Image by TU Dresden
The advantageous properties of metal halide perovskites include their high light-harvesting capacity and their remarkable ability to efficiently convert solar energy into electrical energy. Another special feature of these materials is that both charge carriers and ions are mobile within them. While charge carrier transport is a fundamental process required for the photovoltaic operation of the solar cell, ionic defects and ion transport often have undesirable consequences on the performance of these devices. Despite significant progress in this field of research, many questions regarding the physics of ions in perovskite materials remain open. The team in this work aimed to gain a better understanding of these structures, and has succeeded in making a big step forward.
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE researchers have examined the question of which silicon bottom cell will be most suitable for use in tandem cells. The team evaluated multiple silicon cell concepts based on both cost and efficiency in serving as the bottom layer in a perovskite-silicon tandem cell.
Investigated perovskite silicon tandem concepts featuring four different silicon bottom cells (P E RC, TOPerc, TOPCon2, and SHJ) and two different interconnection concepts (ReCO and SiT). Image from article
The study, based on both simulation and experimental work, details advantages to various approaches with the silicon cell and concludes that in almost every case, perovskite-silicon tandem cells have the potential to bring solar costs down below what could be achieved with silicon alone.
India-based researchers have recently designed a novel synthesis procedure that can produce highly uniform luminescent perovskite nanocrystals with uncommon shapes and surface morphologies.
Their work broadens the range of strategies that can be used for tuning the optical and photonic properties of these materials, which are widely studied for use in solar cells, light-emitting diodes, and electronic displays.
Researchers from the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) in Germany have transferred a practical wetting tool for solution-based perovskite processing to a scalable printing technique.
On the basis of their recent publication on the development of a universal nanoparticle (NP) wetting agent for perovskite precursor solutions on nonwetting materials via spin coating, the team showed for the first time its transfer to scalable gas stream-assisted blade coating of solution-processed perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and modules in the inverted device architecture with highly hydrophobic poly(triaryl amine) (PTAA) as hole transport layer (HTL) on large-area substrates.
Researchers at Duke have examined crystalline metal halide perovskites (MHPs), and found that while crystallinity offers numerous advantages, the ability to access a glassy state with distinct properties can provide unique opportunities to extend the associated structure–property relationship, as well as broaden the application space for MHPs.
Amorphous analogs for MHPs have so far been restricted to high pressures, limiting detailed studies and applications. In their new work, the Duke team structurally tailored a 2D MHP using bulky chiral organic cations to exhibit an unusual confluence of exceptionally low melting temperature (175 °C) and inhibited crystallization.
Northwestern University researchers have developed new perovskite-based devices to assist in the detection and identification of radioactive isotopes. This method could allow the identification of legal versus illegal gamma rays - such detectors are critical for national security, where they're used to detect illegal nuclear materials smuggled across borders and aid in nuclear forensics, as well as in medical diagnostics imaging.
Using cesium lead bromide in the form of perovskite crystals, the research team found they were able to create highly efficient detectors in both small, portable devices for field researchers and very large detectors.
Scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have investigated how to manufacture perovskite materials and solar technology with human health in mind.
Newly published research points to the safest choices for solvents needed to make perovskite solar cells. Unlike silicon solar panels, which require an industrial process, perovskite solar panels can be made using chemicals and produced using a roll-to-roll printing method or spray coating. The process also costs less and takes less time than manufacturing silicon panels.
Perovskite-Info is proud to present our first market report, The Perovskite for the Display Industry Market Report. This market report, brought to you by the world's leading perovskite and OLED industry experts, is a comprehensive guide to next-generation perovskite-based solutions for the display industry that enable efficient, low cost and high-quality display devices.
Reading this report, you'll learn all about:
Perovskite materials and their properties
Perovskite applications in the display industry
Perovskite QDs for color conversion
Prominent perovskite display related research activities
The report also provides a list of perovskite display companies, datasheets and brochures of pQD film solutions, an introduction to perovskite materials and processes, an introduction to emerging display technologies and more.
