Scientists have developed a method to help perovskite solar cells to self-heal. This novel "self-healing" mechanism is a potential step toward increasing the reliability and efficiency of this solar technology.
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'Self-Healing' Perovskite Solar Cells
Perovskite solar cells are known for their high efficiency, lightweight nature, and cost-effectiveness, making them promising candidates for renewable energy applications. However, their susceptibility to environmental factors such as moisture and heat has posed challenges for widespread adoption and scalability.
A recent study by researchers from Monash University, the University of Oxford, and the City University of Hong Kong details an approach that could potentially strengthen perovskite solar cells against these challenges through "self-healing."
This strategy involves integrating an agent they developed that repairs the perovskite layer when exposed to environmental stressors like moisture and heat, potentially maintaining the cells' performance over time.
It uses a "hindered urea/thiocarbamate bond6-8 Lewis acid-base material (HUBLA)," wherein "dynamic covalent bonds with water and heat-activated characteristics can dynamically heal the perovskite to ensure device performance and stability."
Under rigorous testing, including 1,000 hours of accelerated aging at 85°C under simulated solar illumination, the self-healing perovskite solar cells demonstrated a power conversion efficiency of 25.1%.
According to the research team, they retained 94% of their initial efficiency after 1,500 hours of aging in controlled nitrogen environments and 88% after exposure to 1,000 hours of aging at 85°C and 30% relative humidity in air.
The Pursuit of Robust Solar Technologies
Professor Udo Bach, study co-author and Director of the Research Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Monash University, discussed the critical challenges related to defect passivation in perovskites, which have impeded the widespread adoption of this technology.
The researcher claims that gradually releasing passivating agents into their perovskite material has produced solar cells with enhanced performance and extended long-term stability under real-world conditions.
Bach describes this as a breakthrough that could lead to more reliable and efficient perovskite solar cells, supporting the global transition to sustainable energy solutions.
Further research is still needed to optimize manufacturing processes and scale up the production of self-healing perovskite solar cells for commercial applications.
The pursuit of robust solar technologies continues, with initiatives like self-healing solar cells showcasing ongoing scientific inquiry. As efforts progress to refine and commercialize these technologies, perovskite solar cells may play a role in the renewable energy landscape.
However, challenges remain, including regulatory considerations, material scalability, and cost-effectiveness, which require collaboration across academia, industry, and policymakers to address effectively. The findings of the research team were published in the journal Nature.
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