Perovskite Solar Cells Tested for Real-World Performance – in the Lab
June 25, 2019 | EPFLEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Researchers at EPFL bring diurnal and seasonal variations into the lab to test the performance of perovskite solar cells under realistic conditions.
It was only ten years ago that metal-halide perovskites were discovered to be photovoltaic materials. Today, perovskite solar cells made are almost as efficient as the best conventional silicon ones, and there is much hope that they will become a highly efficient and low-cost alternative, as they can be manufactured by rather simple and fast methods like printing.
The major obstacle for commercialization is the stability of perovskite devices. Operational stability is commonly assessed either by continuous illumination in the lab or by outdoor testing. The first approach has the disadvantage of not accounting for real-world operation variations in irradiance and temperature because of day-night and season changes. These are especially important for perovskite solar cells because of their slow response times.
On the other hand, outdoor tests require that the devices are encapsulated to protect them against exposure to harsh weather conditions. But encapsulation mainly addresses parasitic failure mechanisms that are not necessarily related to the perovskite material itself.
To escape from this dilemma, Wolfgang Tress, a scientist with the lab of Anders Hagfeldt at EPFL, working with colleagues at the lab of Michael Grätzel, brought the real-world conditions into the controlled environment of the lab. Using data from a weather station near Lausanne (Switzerland) they reproduced the real-world temperature and irradiance profiles from specific days during the course of the year. With this approach, the scientists were able to quantify the energy yield of the devices under realistic conditions. “This is what ultimately counts for the real-world application of solar cells," says Tress.
The study found that temperature and irradiance variations does not affect the performance of perovskite solar cells in any dramatic way, and although the efficiency of the cells decreases slightly during the course of a day, it recovers during the night.
“The study provides a further step towards the assessment of the performance and reliability of perovskite solar cells under realistic operation conditions,” says Tress.
Suggested Items
New Book on Low-temperature Soldering Now Available
04/17/2024 | I-Connect007I-Connect007 is pleased to announce that The Printed Circuit Assembler’s Guide to… Low-temperature Soldering, Vol. 2, by subject matter experts at MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, is now available for download.
The Chemical Connection: Reducing Etch System Water Usage, Part 1
04/05/2024 | Don Ball -- Column: The Chemical ConnectionWater conservation has become an important component of the overall system design for most manufacturing operations today. Changing climate conditions and increasing populations are beginning to strain the freshwater supplies in many areas of the country. As a result, as equipment suppliers, we see an increasing number of requests for options that reduce water usage in proposed wet processing systems. Etching systems tend to use more water because of the need for close temperature control to maintain steady etch rates and the rinsing requirements for complete removal of corrosive etchants from the surface of the product before the next process step. This column contains some simple suggestions for reducing water usage in etch systems that won’t strain the budget too much.
Indium’s Sze Pei Lim to Present on Semiconductor Packaging at ICEP Japan
04/02/2024 | Indium CorporationIndium Corporation’s Senior Global Product Manager for Semiconductor and Advanced Materials, Sze Pei Lim, is scheduled to present at the International Conference on Electronics Packaging (ICEP 2024).
Nihon Superior Sets New Standards in Lead-Free Soldering Technology at APEX 2024
03/13/2024 | PVANihon Superior Co. Ltd., an advanced joining material supplier, will exhibit in Booth 1325 during the 2024 IPC APEX EXPO, scheduled to take place April 9-11, 2024 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California.
Indium Corporation to Showcase Proven EV Products and High-Reliability Alloys at Productronica China
02/28/2024 | Indium CorporationAs a materials pioneer and trusted partner in electric vehicle (EV) and e-Mobility manufacturing, Indium Corporation is proud to showcase its high-reliability alloys and soldering solutions at Productronica China, March 20-22, in Shanghai.