Organometal halide photovoltaic cells: tailoring fundamental light conversion pathways
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Physics
Abstract
There is overwhelming evidence that our increasing consumption of fossil fuels and the associated emission of carbon dioxide is leading to climate change. This has brought new urgency to the development of clean, renewable sources of energy. Photovoltaic devices that harvest the energy provided by the sun have great potential to contribute to the solution, but uptake of photovoltaic energy generation has been weakened by the cost of devices based on current technology. The key to reducing cost is the development of new photovoltaic materials allowing easy, large-scale processing from solution or low-temperature evaporation that does not require costly purification and high-energy deposition. Importantly, fabrication of photovolatics on conducting plastic or metallic foil electrodes will transform the production techniques from costly semiconductor processing towards printing technology. To the great surprise of the photovoltaics community, a new generation of thin-film photovoltaic cells based on organometal halide perovskite absorbers emerged suddenly over the last 1-2 years which rapidly reached power conversion efficiencies exceeding 15% as materials control and device protocol improved. The methylammonium lead halide perovskite materials employed allow low-cost solution processing in air and absorb broadly across the solar spectrum, making them an exciting new component for clean energy generation.
The key aim of the proposed program is to establish the crucial parameters underpinning the workings of organometal halide perovskite solar cells. The recent remarkable progress in the power conversion efficiencies of these devices has been largely serendipitous, achieved by an initially highly successful trial-and-error approach. Obtaining a clear understanding of fundamental parameters governing light-to-photocurrent conversion now holds the clue to further development of this material class for light-harvesting technologies. Currently, the research community holds little knowledge on factors that have already been well established for most other photovoltaic materials, such as charge generation, recombination and diffusion, as well as the influence of basic material parameters such as composition, morphology, trap states and doping. The presented program is extremely timely, as it will unleash a further wave of efficiency improvements that now crucially relies on a more targeted approach to material advances. In a multi-faceted approach we will combine a study of device performance with advanced spectroscopic investigations, determining directly how fundamental processes can be tuned by materials modifications, and as a result presenting new records in photovoltaic efficiencies.
The key aim of the proposed program is to establish the crucial parameters underpinning the workings of organometal halide perovskite solar cells. The recent remarkable progress in the power conversion efficiencies of these devices has been largely serendipitous, achieved by an initially highly successful trial-and-error approach. Obtaining a clear understanding of fundamental parameters governing light-to-photocurrent conversion now holds the clue to further development of this material class for light-harvesting technologies. Currently, the research community holds little knowledge on factors that have already been well established for most other photovoltaic materials, such as charge generation, recombination and diffusion, as well as the influence of basic material parameters such as composition, morphology, trap states and doping. The presented program is extremely timely, as it will unleash a further wave of efficiency improvements that now crucially relies on a more targeted approach to material advances. In a multi-faceted approach we will combine a study of device performance with advanced spectroscopic investigations, determining directly how fundamental processes can be tuned by materials modifications, and as a result presenting new records in photovoltaic efficiencies.
Planned Impact
Photovoltaic devices that harvest the energy provided by the sun have great potential to resolve the key challenge of finding new sources of renewable energy. Yet, the uptake of photovoltaic energy generation has not been strong, largely because devices based on current technologies are still too expensive. The long-term impact of this project will be the advancement of a new family of low cost solution processable materials for energy applications and beyond. Specifically, metal halide perovskite photovoltaic technology developed in this project will go a long way to assuring that the new photovoltaic technology will reach maturity and enable the rapid growth of a UK based photovoltaics industry. This will accelerate the adoption of photovoltaics worldwide, leading to an important environmental benefit through the reduction in carbon emissions. Metal halide perovskite photovoltaics cells have delivered initial power conversion efficiencies in excess of 15% to date and offer a paradigm-shift in photovoltaics technology. Future development in pushing this technology forward, as outlined in this proposal, will make crucial contributions towards two key societal challenges of energy security and global warming. Hence this research directly benefits society as a whole.
In addition, printed electronics is a key growth area for the UK, and has seen remarkable world-wide expansion in markets ranging from lighting to displays and energy harvesting and storage. The proposed programme will ensure continued success of the UK in areas of low-energy (e.g. solution) processable materials and next generation solar cell, an area in which the UK has been strong and hosts a number of established and start-up companies. Training needs are high in this multidisciplinary technology area; hence this project will be important in maintaining the UK's competitiveness in industry and academia through its training of early-stage researchers. The investigators have a strong track record in engagement with industry, intellectual property exploitation and commercialization through spin-outs, which will give direct benefit the UK economy.
In addition, printed electronics is a key growth area for the UK, and has seen remarkable world-wide expansion in markets ranging from lighting to displays and energy harvesting and storage. The proposed programme will ensure continued success of the UK in areas of low-energy (e.g. solution) processable materials and next generation solar cell, an area in which the UK has been strong and hosts a number of established and start-up companies. Training needs are high in this multidisciplinary technology area; hence this project will be important in maintaining the UK's competitiveness in industry and academia through its training of early-stage researchers. The investigators have a strong track record in engagement with industry, intellectual property exploitation and commercialization through spin-outs, which will give direct benefit the UK economy.
Publications
Borchert J
(2017)
Large-Area, Highly Uniform Evaporated Formamidinium Lead Triiodide Thin Films for Solar Cells
in ACS Energy Letters
Davies CL
(2018)
Impact of the Organic Cation on the Optoelectronic Properties of Formamidinium Lead Triiodide.
in The journal of physical chemistry letters
Eggimann HJ
(2019)
How ß-Phase Content Moderates Chain Conjugation and Energy Transfer in Polyfluorene Films.
in The journal of physical chemistry letters
Eperon G
(2014)
Formamidinium lead trihalide: a broadly tunable perovskite for efficient planar heterojunction solar cells
in Energy & Environmental Science
Eperon GE
(2016)
Perovskite-perovskite tandem photovoltaics with optimized band gaps.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Habisreutinger S
(2017)
Dopant-Free Planar n-i-p Perovskite Solar Cells with Steady-State Efficiencies Exceeding 18%
in ACS Energy Letters
Herz LM
(2016)
Charge-Carrier Dynamics in Organic-Inorganic Metal Halide Perovskites.
in Annual review of physical chemistry
Herz LM
(2018)
How Lattice Dynamics Moderate the Electronic Properties of Metal-Halide Perovskites.
in The journal of physical chemistry letters
Johnston MB
(2016)
Hybrid Perovskites for Photovoltaics: Charge-Carrier Recombination, Diffusion, and Radiative Efficiencies.
in Accounts of chemical research
Keeble DJ
(2021)
Identification of lead vacancy defects in lead halide perovskites.
in Nature communications
Lin Q
(2018)
Hybrid Perovskites: Prospects for Concentrator Solar Cells.
in Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
McMeekin D
(2019)
Solution-Processed All-Perovskite Multi-junction Solar Cells
in Joule
McMeekin DP
(2016)
A mixed-cation lead mixed-halide perovskite absorber for tandem solar cells.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Milot R
(2015)
Temperature-Dependent Charge-Carrier Dynamics in CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 Perovskite Thin Films
in Advanced Functional Materials
Milot RL
(2016)
Radiative Monomolecular Recombination Boosts Amplified Spontaneous Emission in HC(NH2)2SnI3 Perovskite Films.
in The journal of physical chemistry letters
Milot RL
(2018)
The Effects of Doping Density and Temperature on the Optoelectronic Properties of Formamidinium Tin Triiodide Thin Films.
in Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
Milot RL
(2016)
Charge-Carrier Dynamics in 2D Hybrid Metal-Halide Perovskites.
in Nano letters
Motti SG
(2019)
Heterogeneous Photon Recycling and Charge Diffusion Enhance Charge Transport in Quasi-2D Lead-Halide Perovskite Films.
in Nano letters
Nayak PK
(2016)
Mechanism for rapid growth of organic-inorganic halide perovskite crystals.
in Nature communications
Ng T
(2017)
Optoelectronic and spectroscopic characterization of vapour-transport grown Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 single crystals
in Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Noel N
(2017)
A low viscosity, low boiling point, clean solvent system for the rapid crystallisation of highly specular perovskite films
in Energy & Environmental Science
Noel N
(2018)
Highly Crystalline Methylammonium Lead Tribromide Perovskite Films for Efficient Photovoltaic Devices
in ACS Energy Letters
Noel N
(2014)
Lead-free organic-inorganic tin halide perovskites for photovoltaic applications
in Energy Environ. Sci.
Parrott E
(2018)
Interplay of Structural and Optoelectronic Properties in Formamidinium Mixed Tin-Lead Triiodide Perovskites
in Advanced Functional Materials
Parrott ES
(2016)
Effect of Structural Phase Transition on Charge-Carrier Lifetimes and Defects in CH3NH3SnI3 Perovskite.
in The journal of physical chemistry letters
Patel JB
(2018)
Photocurrent Spectroscopy of Perovskite Solar Cells Over a Wide Temperature Range from 15 to 350 K.
in The journal of physical chemistry letters
Patel JB
(2016)
Formation Dynamics of CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite Following Two-Step Layer Deposition.
in The journal of physical chemistry letters
Pérez-Osorio M
(2015)
Vibrational Properties of the Organic-Inorganic Halide Perovskite CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 from Theory and Experiment: Factor Group Analysis, First-Principles Calculations, and Low-Temperature Infrared Spectra
in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Pérez-Osorio M
(2018)
Raman Spectrum of the Organic-Inorganic Halide Perovskite CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 from First Principles and High-Resolution Low-Temperature Raman Measurements
in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Rehman W
(2015)
Charge-Carrier Dynamics and Mobilities in Formamidinium Lead Mixed-Halide Perovskites.
in Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
Sakai N
(2017)
Solution-Processed Cesium Hexabromopalladate(IV), Cs2PdBr6, for Optoelectronic Applications.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Saliba M
(2016)
Structured Organic-Inorganic Perovskite toward a Distributed Feedback Laser.
in Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
Schmidt-Mende L
(2016)
Preface for Special Topic: Perovskite solar cells-A research update
in APL Materials
Stranks SD
(2015)
Enhanced Amplified Spontaneous Emission in Perovskites Using a Flexible Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Reflector.
in Nano letters
Volonakis G
(2017)
Cs2InAgCl6: A New Lead-Free Halide Double Perovskite with Direct Band Gap.
in The journal of physical chemistry letters
Volonakis G
(2019)
Oxide Analogs of Halide Perovskites and the New Semiconductor Ba2AgIO6.
in The journal of physical chemistry letters
Wang Z
(2018)
High irradiance performance of metal halide perovskites for concentrator photovoltaics
in Nature Energy
Wehrenfennig C
(2015)
Fast Charge-Carrier Trapping in TiO 2 Nanotubes
in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Wehrenfennig C
(2014)
Charge-carrier dynamics in vapour-deposited films of the organolead halide perovskite CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3-x Cl x
in Energy Environ. Sci.
Wehrenfennig C
(2014)
Charge carrier recombination channels in the low-temperature phase of organic-inorganic lead halide perovskite thin films
in APL Materials
Wehrenfennig C
(2014)
Homogeneous Emission Line Broadening in the Organo Lead Halide Perovskite CH3NH3PbI3-xClx.
in The journal of physical chemistry letters
Wehrenfennig C
(2014)
High charge carrier mobilities and lifetimes in organolead trihalide perovskites.
in Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
Wright A
(2017)
Band-Tail Recombination in Hybrid Lead Iodide Perovskite
in Advanced Functional Materials
Wright AD
(2016)
Electron-phonon coupling in hybrid lead halide perovskites.
in Nature communications
Zhang Y
(2015)
Charge selective contacts, mobile ions and anomalous hysteresis in organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells
in Materials Horizons
| Description | We have investigated the mechanisms governing the fundamental pathways by which light is converted into electrical charges in a new and highly promising class of hybrid metal halide perovskite materials. These investigations have allowed us to make better photovoltaic cells with high efficiencies and to move towards all-perovskite tandem solar cells. |
| Exploitation Route | Oxford University now hosts a spin-out company, Oxford Photovoltaics, who will be taking this technology forward. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Electronics,Energy,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| URL | https://www-herz.physics.ox.ac.uk/research.html |