The Perovskite-Info newsletter (September 28, 2021)

Ascent Solar Technologies, a developer and manufacturer of flexible thin-film photovoltaic solutions, has announced the signing of a Joint Development Agreement with German agrivoltaic thin-film solar tube maker, TubeSolar, to pursue the Agricultural-photovoltaics/Agrivoltaics (APV) market.

It was indicated that this JDA is a multi-million-dollar, long-term supply agreement, forming a strategic partnership between Ascent Solar and TubeSolar. This JDA includes (i) long-term supplier of customized PV (“PV Foils”) for TubeSolar, (ii) Non-Recurring Engineering Fee (“NRE Fee”) of up to $4 Million, payable by TubeSolar to Ascent Solar in three parts, (iii) establishment of a joint venture entity to develop a new manufacturing facility located in Germany (“JV FAB”), (iv) the Company will benefit from milestone payments by TubeSolar of up to $13.5 Million, and (v) joint development efforts in next generation, high efficiency CIGS-Perovskite tandem PV cells.

Researchers from Russia-based ITMO University and the University of Rome Tor Vergata have developed a paste made of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and resonant silicon nanoparticles, claimed to improve light absorption in perovskite solar cells based on methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃).

The scientists created a mesoporous electron transport layer based on optically resonant silicon nanoparticles which were then incorporated into TiO₂ paste. “Such particles serve as nanoantennae – they catch light and it resonates inside them. And the longer light stays in the photoactive layer, the more of it is absorbed by the material,” said Sergey Makarov, professor at ITMO’s school of physics and engineering.

Scientists from École Polytechnique Fedérale de Lausanne (EPFL), University of Luxembourg, Empa-Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology and CNRS have demonstrated a simple approach to designing the interface between two layers in a perovskite solar cell, improving both the performance and stability of the device.

Solar cells fabricated by the group achieved 23.4% conversion efficiency, and were operated for close to 6,000 hours before degrading beyond 80% of this initial value.