Researchers at the Eindhoven University of Technology and the ECN Research Institute in the Netherlands recently found that adding a few nanometers of aluminum oxide prevents perovskite solar cells from being affected by humidity, which is still a problem for commercial use of perovskite solar cells The main obstacles to the application. The research results published in the "Energy and Environmental Science" magazine. Surprisingly, the battery capacity is also increased by 3%.
Perovskite solar cells have experienced rapid development in recent years. Perovskites, a mineral that has the same crystal structure as CaTiO 3, this type of solar cell capacity has risen to 22% in just a few years.
However, one of the shortcomings of this perovskite battery temporarily is the destructive effect of humidity: the water vapor in the air reacts with the perovskite crystals, resulting in a decrease in yield. This instability is a stumbling block to commercialization.
The researchers used several layers of alumina atoms to coat the sensitive layer of perovskite to prevent degradation of performance due to humidity. The alumina atomic layer is contained within the solar cell between the perovskite layer and the electrical contact layer. The choice of alumina (Al2O3) is mainly due to its rapid formation on any type of surface.
Although alumina has conductive insulation, it can still function as a buffer layer between the semiconductor perovskite and the conductive contact by limiting its thickness to 1 nm or less, and then the charge carriers transfer the power to the insulator Floor.
The researchers compared the cells with the alumina layer with those without the alumina layer. Two months after exposure to damp air, cells containing alumina layers can produce between 60% and 70% of their original capacity, compared to just 12% for conventional cells.
In addition, the battery capacity increased from 15% to 18%, which is an additional receipt of the research results.
Previous studies have typically attempted to mount the alumina layer to the exterior of the cell, but the protective alumina layer has not been attached to the exterior of the cell. This solar cell can be added on both sides of a variety of materials, perovskite layer can get the maximum transmittance, to ensure the best current utilization. (Text / Tina compiled)
