Perovskite is a material that has superconductivity properties that scientists discovered works great for creating photovoltaic (PV) solar cells. Scientists are breaking new ground at a rapid rate by developing new record-breaking solar efficiency using perovskite.
This leads us to a team of scientists from Japan’s Gifu University and the Tokyo Institute of Technology, who claim they’ve developed a new silicon perovskite tandem solar cell that can reach an efficiency of 38.7%!
The team’s findings were recently published in Solar RRL, titled “Extraordinary Strong Band‐Edge Absorption in Distorted Chalcogenide Perovskites.” In the paper, they claim to have achieved this new high efficiency at up to 600 degrees Celsius and underwater absorption.
The team has identified a chalcogenide perovskite material with extremely high light absorption attributes. Using earth-abundant and nontoxic Ba(Zr,Ti)S3, which has a light absorption coefficient exceeding 105cm-1 they can push the efficiency over 38%.
The team commented about the findings:
As a top-cell material of a chalcogenide perovskite/c-Si tandem solar cell, BaZrS3-based alloys – including Ba(Zr0.95Ti0.05)S3 and BaZr(S0.6Se0.4)3 – have been fabricated. Our device simulation shows that 38% efficiency can be reached in a BaZrS3-alloy top cell and a c-Si bottom cell architecture with a thin top cell thickness of 550nm.
Gifu University professor Hiroyuki Fujiwara called the new material “quite stable” and said the materials light absorption properties enable the ultra-thin solar cells ideal for fabrication. The team believes mass production of these cells is possible if paired with the right thin-film formation technology.
PV Magazine reported two other studies have recently tested out different chalcogenide materials.
Lehigh University in Pennsylvania finished a study in December that mapped the lattice thermal energy transport mechanism using CaZrSe3 for use in solar and thermoelectric applications. These are said to help thermal stability and toxicity.
Then in January the University of Buffalo developed a thin-film made of chalcogenide perovskite barium zirconium sulfide (BaZrS3), with “very strong light absorption and good charge transport.” They believe this can be especially useful for solar cell development and the manufacturing of LEDs.
And I recently wrote about the new world record of 29.15% efficiency for a perovskite/silicon (PS/Si) tandem solar cell, achieved by scientists from Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB). The team there improved the perovskite composition, increasing the stability and the balance of currents with a special electrode contact layer.
These exciting changes in perovskite technology are not only increasing the efficiency of solar cells, but the nontoxic earth-abundant materials will effectively help to drop the price enabling greater applications of clean green energy. The future looks bright for solar!
