Protecting solar cells for better performance
A team of researchers at the City University of Hong Kong and University of Oxford have made an important contribution to solar energy technology by developing a dynamic passivator that greatly improves the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells.
In the context of solar cells, a passivator is a material or treatment used to reduce the number of defects or unwanted reactions at the surfaces or interfaces within a solar cell. This process, known as passivation, helps in minimising the recombination of charge carriers which can otherwise limit the efficiency of the solar cell.
The team introduced a multifunctional additive that can adapt to environmental changes and protect solar cell material over time: a living passivator. This development makes the solar cells more resistant to heat, moisture, and light, improving their stability and efficiency.
The research, published in the journal Nature with Professor Tony Shien-ping Feng and Professor Henry J. Snaith FRS as corresponding authors, demonstrates that the integrated cells retain over 90% of their initial power conversion efficiency after 500 hours of continuous operation, a significant improvement compared to previous technologies.
Perovskites are materials that share a specific crystal structure originally found in the mineral calcium titanium oxide. They can be synthesised in laboratories and manufactured for various applications. Perovskite solar cells are considered a promising alternative to traditional silicon-based solar cells due to their lower cost and higher efficiency. The results achieved by the CityU/Oxford team is a step towards making them more durable and efficient. It also represents a milestone towards their commercial viability, potentially changing the landscape of renewable energy.