Silicon solar cells have a serious competitor. The alternative just gained two major arguments.

Representatives from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology explain their concept in detail on the pages. nature energyTheir goal, they say, was to increase the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells. On their way to that goal, they decided to deal with something like concave surface defects. These occur in the crystalline grains that make up the cells and turned out to be responsible for the problems these devices were experiencing.

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Chemistry has helped to remove these cavities, and if perovskite technology continues to develop as dynamically as it is now, silicon could be dethroned. This alternative approach offers much lower production costs and the potential for versatile energy production. Unfortunately, the stability and long-term utility of the cells has remained an issue.

Without meeting the last two conditions, it is difficult to imagine that perovskites will dominate the market forever. Perhaps the work of Asian scientists who proved that these concavities break the structural continuity at the junction of perovskite flakes will be a catalyst for action. They turned out to be the culprits responsible for the declining efficiency and stability of the cell.

As scientists from Hong Kong have shown, silicon solar cells have experienced a decline in stability and efficiency due to so-called concave surface defects.

Of course, identifying the source of the problem is one thing, but it is also worth dealing with it. The research team members followed this assumption when designing an approach that leads to eliminating the defect. The acid molecules were entrusted with this task, thanks to which it was possible to control the development of stresses and the diffusion of ions during the formation of perovskite layers. Subsequent tests showed an increase in the efficiency and stability of the cells.

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This is great news for the entire industry, because the more efficient and reliable the installation, the better. The growing share of renewables in the global energy mix may continue to grow thanks to advances in technologies that have so far remained somewhat in the shadows. Perovskite solar cells are certainly one of them.