perovskite solar cells

Stabilizing perovskite solar cells—researchers decouple the synergistic role of water and oxygen in degradation

By Lisa McDonald / February 20, 2024

Achieving long-term operational stability of all-perovskite solar cells remains a challenge. Researchers led by Georgia Institute of Technology made the surprising discovery that while exposing perovskites to both water and oxygen leads to instability, taking away one of those factors preserved the perovskites’ structure.

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Ceramics for renewable energy generation, plus more inside January/February 2024 ACerS Bulletin

By Lisa McDonald / January 11, 2024

The January/February 2024 issue of the ACerS Bulletin—featuring ceramics for renewable energy generation—is now available online. Plus—ceramic-based arts for mood disorder treatment.

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Perovskite solar cells charge ahead to record-breaking efficiencies

By Guest Contributor / July 21, 2023

The potential of perovskites as a photovoltaic material, both in combination with silicon and alone, is gaining steam. This CTT overviews some of the biggest advancements in this field in recent months.

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Accelerated aging test suggests decades-long performance is possible for new perovskite solar cell

By Guest Contributor / July 26, 2022

As the lifetime of perovskite solar cells improves, accelerated aging tests are needed to determine their long-term stability. Researchers at Princeton University and Linköping University proposed a new method for performing accelerated aging tests on perovskites—and demonstrated their newly developed perovskite cell may last up to 30 years in operation.

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‘Molecular glue’ enhances perovskite solar cell reliability

By Lisa McDonald / May 18, 2021

Perovskite solar cells struggle with long-term reliability due to their love–hate relationship with the sun. Brown University researchers explored using self-assembled monolayers to “glue” interfaces within the cells and thus make the cells more efficient, stable, and reliable.

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Pursuing the future of energy: A review on perovskite tandem solar cell development and fundamentals

By Lisa McDonald / October 23, 2020

Perovskite tandem solar cell technologies improved rapidly in the past six years, but there are still challenges keeping them from commercialization. A recent review article by two researchers at the University of Surrey in the U.K. provides an expansive look at this budding industry.

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Cracking the case toward commercial solar—perovskite films easily healed with moderate compression or heat

By Lisa McDonald / February 18, 2020

Perovskite solar cells are expected to become a leading contender to silicon-based solar cells, or for use in tandem with them, once several challenges are overcome. Researchers at Brown University found cracks in perovskite films are easily healed by applying compression or moderate heat.

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Fluoride strengthens both teeth and solar cells

By Lisa McDonald / June 4, 2019

Researchers in the Netherlands and China found adding fluoride to perovskite solar cells helps stabilize the material’s structure, much like fluoride in toothpaste protects tooth enamel from decay.

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Caffeine provides energy boost to humans and solar cells alike

By Lisa McDonald / May 7, 2019

Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that adding caffeine to perovskite solar cells stabilizes their power conversion efficiency, due to caffeine forming a “molecular lock” with lead ions in the solar cells.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By Lisa McDonald / May 1, 2019

Simulating the formation of ASR gels, solar cells work better with caffeine, and other materials stories that may be of interest for May 1, 2019.

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