New fabrication method for perovskite solar cells

Researchers have found a new way to fabricate high-efficiency, semitransparent perovskite solar cells. Their study, led by The Australian National University (ANU) and published in the journal Advanced Energy Materials, could lead to more efficient and cheaper solar electricity.

Dr Tom White, from the ANU Research School of Engineering, said perovskite solar cells are extremely good at making electricity from visible light — blue, green and red — while conventional silicon solar cells are more efficient at converting infrared light into electricity. But while perovskite cells can improve efficiency, they are not yet stable enough to be used on rooftops.

The new fabrication method involves adding a small amount of the element indium into one of the perovskite solar cell layers during fabrication. In addition, the cells can be combined with conventional silicon solar cells to produce more efficient electricity.

PhD student The Duong, PhD student Jun Peng and Dr Tom White. Image credit: Jack Fox, ANU.

“We have been able to achieve a record efficiency of 16.6% for a semitransparent perovskite cell and 24.5% for a perovskite–silicon tandem, which is one of the highest efficiencies reported for this type of cell,” said Dr White.

“By combining these two cells, the perovskite cell and the silicon cell, we are able to make much better use of the solar energy and achieve higher efficiencies than either cell on its own.”

Top image credit: Jack Fox, ANU.