Researchers at the Federal University of ABC in Brazil have discovered a way to enhance durability in solar cells for use in common applications, according to an article posted to TechXplore.
There are many options when it comes to photovoltaic (solar) technology. One of the more promising has been perovskite solar cells, as they cost less to produce and are equally efficient as silicon cells, as the article detailed. Additionally, they're flexible enough to have multiple potential applications.
The perovskite family consists of materials made with differing chemical compositions that share a common structure. Perovskites created from formamidinium and methylammonium are the most commonly used in solar cells, per TechXplore.
However, these solar cells have run into a significant issue; they rapidly degrade, which limits their use in day-to-day life.
The researchers in Brazil may have found a solution. Their study, conducted at the Federal University of ABC, tested whether adding more formamidinium cations to these cells would prevent degradation when exposed to humidity and ambient temperatures.
The researchers found that solar cells with 25% or more of formamidinium had 80% efficiency at the end of the study's 90-day test period. Meanwhile, cells made without formamidinium immediately showed a decrease in efficiency and then ceased functioning at the 30-day mark.
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The coordinator of the study, professor André Sarto Polo, explained in the article on TechXplore, "This work demonstrates how the incorporation of FA+ cations into MA+-based perovskites causes an increase in the durability of perovskite solar cells fabricated and measured under ambient conditions."
The results of this study open up the prospect of creating more durable perovskite solar cells that may be able to be used in applications such as tents, clothing, and windows. They could also be produced at an even lower cost. As an alternative to resource-intensive sources that depend on an energy grid, perovskite solar cells could save governments, corporations, and individuals a ton.
More durable perovskite solar cells also contribute to the sustainability goal of curbing pollution by switching from dirty energy to diversified clean energy sources. A reduction in the amount of heat-trapping pollution caused by dirty energy could significantly lower the number of health issues people face, as it would result in cleaner air and water.
Although it may be a while before we see more widespread use of perovskite solar cells, this study demonstrates their potential for highly beneficial applications.
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