New light on perovskite solar cell durability problems

Perovskite solar cells are one of the hot topics in the energy field. They have the potential for cheap mass production, but they are also sensitive to moisture. Cooperation between the Chinese University of Xi'an Jiaotong and Aalto University have resulted in better understanding of the degradation mechanisms.

Perovskite-based solar cells were invented in 2009. Their efficiency has risen astonishingly from a few percent to the same level as traditional silicon solar cells. Perovskite solar cells are one of the hot topics in the energy field today. They have the potential for cheap mass production.

The problem with these cells is their sensitivity to moisture. A small amount of water is enough to destroy the cell.

The researchers at the Chinese University of Xi'an Jiaotong and Aalto University have thoroughly studied mechanisms for the decomposition of Perovskite Solar Cells. Professor Peter Lund of the Department of Applied Physics, who has been involved in the study, says that the birth of degradation mechanisms is now much better understood than before. In fact, a small amount of water is useful in the manufacture of the cell for the crystallization of materials, but when a certain threshold is exceeded, the situation is reversed. Next, the Sino-Finnish consortium plans to develop better testing and encapsulation methods for perovskite solar cells. The results of the study were published in the most prestigious energy science journal Energy and Environmental Science.

For more information: Jianbing Huang,  Shunquan Tan,  Peter Lund  and  Huanping Zhou. Impact of H2O on organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells. Energy & Environmental Science, 2017, DOI: 10.1039/C7EE01674C