Durable Solar Cells for Commercial Projects

Check out this recent paper in Solar RRL: "Bilayer Electron Transport Layers for High-Performance Rigid and Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells" by Anush Ranka, Inseok Yang, Madhuja Layek, Christopher Louzon, Meaghan Doyle, Jason Tresback, Donghoon Song, Kunal Datta, Juan-Pablo Correa-Baena, and Nitin Padture Abstract While great progress is being made in achieving high power conversion efficiency (PCE), durability, and reliability in rigid and flexible n-i-p perovskite solar cells (PSCs), there is still room for improvement. Among myriad ways this can be achieved, one way is to improve the processing and quality of electron-transport layers (ETLs) used in PSCs. To that end, here we explore the use of SnO2/TiO2 bilayer ETLs in both rigid and flexible PSCs. In the case of rigid PSCs, chemical bath deposition (CBD) is used where the bilayer architecture affords the CBD of high-quality ETL, which results in PSCs with up to 25.13% PCE and operational-stability T80 (80% of initial PCE retained) of 2,220 h under 1-sun continuous illumination with maximum power-point tracking. In the case of flexible PSCs, once again, the bilayer architecture allows us to fabricate high-quality ETL using spin-coating, which results in PSCs with up to 22.54% PCE and excellent mechanical durability, withstanding 20,000 bending cycles with ~92% of the initial PCE retained. Mechanisms underlying the enhanced performance and stability/durability of rigid and flexible PSCs that use SnO2/TiO2 bilayer ETLs are elucidated. This approach could be extended to other ETL systems for PSCs for further improvements in PCE, durability, and reliability. (Link to the article in comment👇)

IBC (Interdigitated Back Contact) technology solar modules are a type of high-efficiency solar panel that uses a unique architecture to improve performance. Rear contact solar cells have the ability to prevent all shading losses by placing both contacts on the rear of the cell. The pairs of electron hole generated by the light that is absorbed at the front surface of the cell can still be collected at the rear of the cell, by the use of a thin solar cell manufactured from high quality material. Such cells are especially useful in the concentrator applications, where the cell series resistance effect is much greater. An additional benefit of these cells is that cells with both of the contacts on the rear can be interconnected easier and can be placed closer together in the module because there is no need for any space between the cells. Key features: 1. Interdigitated back contact design: Metal contacts are placed on the back of the cell, allowing for more efficient charge carrier collection. 2. High-efficiency cells: IBC cells have higher efficiency rates (up to 26.7%) compared to traditional solar cells. 3. Reduced recombination losses: The interdigitated design minimizes recombination losses, leading to higher efficiency. 4. Improved temperature performance: IBC modules perform better in high-temperature conditions. Benefits: 1. Higher efficiency: IBC modules offer higher efficiency rates, resulting in more power output per unit area. 2. Increased energy yield: Higher efficiency and improved temperature performance lead to increased energy yield over the module's lifetime. 3. Reduced space requirements: Higher efficiency means fewer modules are needed to achieve the same power output, reducing space requirements. 4. Improved durability: IBC modules have a longer lifespan and are more resistant to degradation. Applications: 1. Residential and commercial rooftop installations 2. Utility-scale solar power plants 3. Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) 4. Agricultural and rural electrification 5. Off-grid and remote power systems IBC technology offers improved efficiency, energy yield, and durability, making it a popular choice for high-performance solar applications.

Delighted to share our latest research paper published in the Chemical Engineering Journal (CEJ) Elsevier. Our study introduces a pioneering 'lead iodide secondary growth and π-π stack regulation' strategy to enhance the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Through π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding between 4-fluorobenylamide and the Pb-I framework, we stabilized the PbI6 skeleton, a critical advancement against iodine loss, which significantly contributes to PSC degradation. This novel approach not only strengthens the Pb-I structure under heat and light stress but also achieves an impressive 96% retention of initial efficiency over 1300 hours—bringing us closer to stable, commercially viable PSCs. This work was made possible through the support of UCL Global Engagement, NEXTCCUS, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. A big thank you to all for supporting the Functional Materials and Energy Devices Research Group at the UCL Institute for Materials Discovery. Exciting collaboration between FMED research group at UCL Institute for Materials Discovery (IMD) and the School of New Energy and Materials at Southwest Petroleum University! #PerovskiteSolarCells #RenewableEnergy #SustainableEnergy #Photovoltaics #MaterialsScience #EnergyMaterials #ResearchInnovation #NetZero Link: 📢📢📢 👇👇👇 https://lnkd.in/dF9mmwpE