Biomineral-inspired mechanically tough perovskite solar cells with enhanced stability
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Materials
Abstract
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People |
ORCID iD |
| Saiful Islam (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Dey K
(2024)
Substitution of lead with tin suppresses ionic transport in halide perovskite optoelectronics
in Energy & Environmental Science
Jia Z
(2024)
Film-forming polymer nanoparticle strategy for improving the passivation and stability of perovskite solar cells
in Energy & Environmental Science
Kamaraki C
(2024)
Charting the Irreversible Degradation Modes of Low Bandgap Pb-Sn Perovskite Compositions for De-Risking Practical Industrial Development
in Advanced Energy Materials
| Description | Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) provide excellent potential for large-scale solar energy harvesting because of their high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and facile preparation. However, long-term stability remains the Achilles heel for PSCs and new methods for improving stability are urgently needed. Film-forming polymer nanoparticles are widely used in the surface coatings industry to provide scalable, low-cost protection to surfaces. Inspired by this, here we add three soft, film-forming crosslinked polymer nanoparticle systems (nanogels) with different diameters (60, 100 and 200 nm) to the perovskite (FA0.75MA0.25PbI3) precursor solution and study their effects on PSC performance. The nanogels contain hydrophilic ethylene oxide repeat units and form films when their diameter is less than or equal to 100 nm. Device stability was assessed using shelf-life and light-soaking measurements; in addition, films were subjected to moisture challenge tests. We show that nanogel coverage increases the PCE and stability. Ab initio simulations indicate strong binding of the molecules that comprise the nanogels on the perovskite surface through Pb-O bonds, thereby promoting enhanced surface stability in agreement with the XPS and FTIR signals associated with the binding of the C[double bond, length as m-dash]O and C-O groups to Pb. Shelf-life stability measurements showed that nanogels with a diameter of 100 nm gave devices that retained >80% of their initial PCE after more than six months compared to 25% for the control. In contrast, the 200 nm nanogels did not form films or increase the PCE or shelf-life stability. The 100 nm nanogels also gave the best stability to light soaking. |
| Exploitation Route | Our results show that highly deformable hydrophilic film-forming nanogel particles with a size of ~100 nm provide a scalable alternative approach for improving passivation and stability of perovskite solar cells. |
| Sectors | Chemicals Electronics Energy |
| Description | Professor Saif Haque at Imperial College London |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Research collaboration on new solar cell materials using computational techniques |
| Collaborator Contribution | Research collaboration on new solar cell materials using experimental techniques |
| Impact | Publication in preparation |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Invited Conference Talk - RSC Energy & Environmental Science Symposium, London, 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited research talk to an international audience on latest studies |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.rsc.org/events/detail/79585/ees-symposium |
| Description | Invited conference talk - 16th International Conference on Hybrid and Organic Photovoltaics, Valencia, Spain, 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited research talk to an international audience on latest studies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.nanoge.org/HOPV24/home |
| Description | Invited conference talk - MAT-SUS Fall Meeting, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited research talk to an international audience on latest studies |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.nanoge.org/MATSUSFall24/home#/! |
| Description | Next Generation Materials for Solar Photovoltaics 2024 : Dr Zhu Lei |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Attending conference (Jan 17, 20204): https://www.rsc.org/events/detail/76679/next-generation-materials-for-solar-photovoltaics-2024 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | PSCO Perovskites conference: Prof Saiful Islam, Dr Lei Zhu |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Conference in Oxford, Sept 18-20, 2023, https://www.psco-conference.org/index.php/past-events |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Professor Saiful Islam gave a Eckersley Lecture. Talk title was "Materials for Green Energy - Crystal Gazing on the Atomic Scale". Event took place on 30th of March at Bedales Theatre in Petersfield. Since its introduction in 1966, Bedales' annual science lecture has attracted leading scientists including two Nobel Prize winners. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Professor Saiful Islam gave a Eckersley Lecture. Talk title was "Materials for Green Energy - Crystal Gazing on the Atomic Scale". Event took place on 30th of March at Bedales Theatre in Petersfield. Since its introduction in 1966, Bedales' annual science lecture has attracted leading scientists including two Nobel Prize winners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/bedales/t-mojmvjk |
| Description | Professor Saiful Islam gave a public lecture at the Newcastle University on 24-Oct, on green energy materials using 3D glasses. "Green energy materials in 3D: Crystal gazing on the atomic scale". |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Professor Saiful Islam gave a public lecture at the Newcastle University on 24-Oct, on green energy materials using 3D glasses. "Green energy materials in 3D: Crystal gazing on the atomic scale". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://catmatproject.wordpress.com/events/ |
| Description | Professor Saiful Islam gave a talk at OXFORD MAY MUSIC FESTIVAL. Talk title was "Materials for Green Energy - Crystal Gazing on the Atomic Scale". Event took place on 31st of April at The Church of St John the Evangelist. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Professor Saiful Islam gave a talk at OXFORD MAY MUSIC FESTIVAL. Talk title was "Materials for Green Energy - Crystal Gazing on the Atomic Scale". Event took place on 31st of April at The Church of St John the Evangelist. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | http://www.oxfordmaymusic.co.uk/2023-programme/2023/4/21/green-energy-materials-crystal-gazing-at-th... |