Photovoltaic (PV) technologies, which convert light into electricity, are gaining global traction as a renewable energy source. Researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have made a significant breakthrough in enhancing the efficiency and durability of perovskite solar cells, a type of thin-film PV device. This innovation promises to accelerate the large-scale production of clean energy.

The key to their success was identifying critical parameters that influence the performance and lifespan of halide perovskites, a next-generation PV material known for its unique crystal structure. Perovskites are semiconductors with a unique crystalline structure that is ideal for solar photovoltaic cells and has been explored in recent years as a substitute for the silicon that has been traditionally used.

The researchers’ findings, published in the journal Science in May 2024, reveal for the first time how different types of amines (primary, secondary and tertiary) and their combinations can improve the defect-prone surfaces of perovskite films. The team used “ex-situ” (outside the operating environment) and “in-situ” (within the operating environment) methods to study these molecular interactions.

In their demonstration, the researchers fabricated solar cells in medium (0.25 cm²) and large (1 cm²) sizes, achieving low-photovoltage loss across a wide range of bandgaps while maintaining high-voltage output. These cells reached open-circuit voltages exceeding 90% of the thermodynamic limit. Benchmarking against approximately 1,700 data sets from existing literature, their results were among the best reported to date in terms of the efficiency of energy conversion.

What does this all mean?  It shows that improvements in photovoltaic cell structure and makeup can enhance the performance of solar cells and energy infrastructure, at a time when solar is gaining in popularity and its technology is continuously improving it to help solar become a viable source of sustainable energy in multiple ways within our world.